ASO Chlef 0 – 0 Étoile (1-2 on agg.) : Heroic !
By: Houssem | April 6th, 2009Sheesh, that was a stressful one. We progress by the slightest of margins, but I’m not one to check a gift horse’s teeth. Rohr chose the more prudent approach and stacked the midfield with defensive players (Mabrouk, Everson, Nafkha, Tenniche).
Being on the pitch in front of those crazy crowds must have been intense enough, that’s why the players deserve a lot of credit for holding on against the pressure kept by Chlef, especially Massoud and Gharbi with their long range shots (where were these guys in the first leg?). But Mathlouthi and the woodwork stood between them and a goal that would have been enough to get us out of the competition. But we didn’t stay in our half for 90 minutes, that’s just not how Étoile rolls in african competitions. We saw some nice collective play at times, but didn’t really take advantage of the few counterattacks we managed to get. Meriah almost surprised Chlef’s keeper with a high ball from a free kick when the stadium was covered up in smoke. With a bit more luck, it would have gone in instead of bouncing on the cross-bar. What a goal that would have been ! Most of the credit goes to the defenders, no doubt about that.
These are the games that show you if your team is able to handle the pressure and the environment, to concentrate on achieving a given task, like not conceding at any cost. Our next opponent will be Al Ahly of Tripoli, Libya in less than two weeks, with the return leg in Sousse. Piece of cake ? I wouldn’t put any money against l’Étoile anyway !
Category: Étoile du Sahel Team News
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Comments
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I agree with your viewpoints, Houssem. I would not blame l’Etoile for playing like they did in that Algerian stadium. The key is that ESS qualified, period! Mathlouthi once again proved he’s the number one keeper in Tunisia. I am wondering when Mendoza and the new Nigerian recruit will start playing. We’re going to need their firepower in the group stages. Any ideas?
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United States
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I think Mendoza and Negedu both suffer from the restriction on non-Tunisian players in the league. With Bukari and Everson already being crucial to the team, there’s little room left for another foreigner. The Chlef game required a defensive approach, that’s in my opinion a reason for leaving them out. Other than that, I think they’re still adjusting to the rest of team, and I hope it will be over as soon as possible, because the firepower will be needed in the 3 league games before we can think about the CL group stage
Posted from
Germany -
Seriously, has Rohr added ANYTHING to l’Etoile? I say unless he truns things around and make use of the tremendous talent pool, he should be shown the door asap!!!
http://www.alchourouk.com/detailarticle.asp
Posted from
United States -
Rohr will leave very soon, Milla 7ala we really need to get rid of ths complex we have and assuming that the european trainer is superior to the local trainer.
Ahhh ya Fauwzi, If driss is a great leader he should acknowledge his wrong strategy and get back to tunisian talents!!
Ghrairi needs a chance he seems to me the new FAOUZI EL BENZARTI!!
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United States
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