Esperance in CAF Champions League Final berth
Esperance clinch Final berth
Posted: 2010-10-18 07:59
Tunisia's Esperance on Sunday clinched a berth in the Final of the CAF Champions League for the first time in a decade but needed a controversial goal to overcome Egyptians giants Al Ahly.
Esperance, whose 1-0 win at home in Tunis ensured victory in the two-legged semi-final, now face defending champions TP Mazembe Englebert of the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Final.
Esperance's goal came after just 50 seconds but was clearly punched into the net by their Nigerian striker Michael Eneramo, using his forearm to steer the ball goal ward as he dived in at the back post.
But the Ghana referee Joseph Lamptey surprisingly let it stand and Ahly's frustration boiled over just 20 minutes later with Mohamed Barakat punching an opponent and being sent off.
Down to 10 men, the Cairo club were unable to conjure up a fight back and having held a narrow 2-1 lead from an equally tempestuous first leg earlier this month, went out on the away goals rule TP Mazembe held JS Kabylie of Algeria to a goalless draw in a dull second leg of their semi-final tie in Tizi Ouzou on Saturday. It was refereed by Cape Town's Jerome Damon.
Mazembe's 3-1 lead from the first leg was rarely threatened. They will host the first leg of the Final in Lubumbashi on October 31 with the return in Tunis on November 13.
CLICK HERE to see the controversial goal.
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