Naim Sliti scored one and set up two goals as Tunisia began their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a 4-0 win over Equatorial Guinea.
The Carthage Eagles completely dominated the Group J game but it took them until the second half to break down the visitors' stubborn resistance.
Sliti had one goal ruled out before he eventually grabbed the opening goal and then set up substitutes Saifeddine Jaziri and Youssef Msakni, who completed the rout late on.
Equatorial Guinea, who had reached the quarter-finals of the Nations Cup in Cameroon earlier this year, ended the game with 10 men after Joan Lopez Elo was dismissed for two yellow cards.
Tunisia's win came in front of a just a few thousand fans, despite it being free to get in, and despite their early dominance they struggled to create many real chances.
Firas Ben Larbi had a shot blocked, Ferjani Sassi's best effort was straight at goalkeeper Jesus Owono while Ali Abdi saw his effort fly across the face of goal inches away from being touched in.
Tunisia thought they had taken the lead six minutes after the break when a shot from Sliti squirmed past Owono but the referee ruled that he started dribbling before Ben Larbi's slight touch on a free kick had moved the ball far enough.
Five minutes later Sliti did score as he pounced to score from close range through Owono's legs as the Equatorial Guinea defence failed to clear the ball.
With just under 20 minutes left to play Equatorial Guinea were reduced to 10 men as second-half substitute Lopez Elo was dismissed.
Tunisia made the extra man count in the last 13 minutes as Sliti turned provider, swinging in a cross for Jaziri to head home with his very first touch in the game after coming on as a substitute.
No comments:
Post a Comment