Esperance Sportive de Tunis kept their FIFA Club World Cup campaign alive with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Los Angeles FC, secured by a Youcef Belaili strike and a crucial stoppage-time penalty save from goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said.
With both sides having suffered defeat in their opening Group D matches, the encounter in Nashville carried a must-win edge. For the Tunisian champions, it was a chance to restore pride and revive hope, while for the Major League Soccer side, it was about staying in contention for a place in the last 16.
Esperance came out with purpose and intensity from the first whistle. Belaili nearly opened the scoring early on, only to be denied by an excellent save from LAFC’s veteran keeper Hugo Lloris. Rodrigo Rodrigues then struck the post for the Tunisian outfit with a fierce effort from outside the box. LAFC created chances of their own, with David Martinez dragging wide when unmarked in the area.
Just before the interval, LAFC thought they had taken the lead when Martinez finished smartly, but celebrations were short-lived as VAR intervened to rule out the goal for offside against Denis Bouanga in the build-up.
After the break, Esperance believed they had won a penalty when Belaili appeared to be brought down in the box, only for the decision to be overturned after a VAR review, with the Algerian forward instead booked for simulation.
Despite the setback, Esperance continued to press. Their persistence was rewarded in the 70th minute when Belaili capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area and buried a low finish past Lloris, giving the Tunisians a deserved lead.
Khalil Guenichi then rattled the crossbar with a thunderous long-range effort as Esperance looked to kill off the game. But their failure to extend the advantage nearly cost them at the death.
In stoppage time, a clumsy foul in the area gave LAFC a golden chance to equalise and stay alive in the tournament. Bouanga stepped up, but Ben Said guessed right, saving the penalty with his leg in a moment of high drama that sparked wild celebrations among the Tunisian players and fans.
The win marks Esperance’s 10th consecutive victory in matches where they score first, and it breathes life into their campaign ahead of a decisive group-stage finale against Chelsea. For LAFC, the defeat means elimination with a game to spare, bringing a disappointing end to their tournament ambitions.
