Right between the legs! Espérance Tunis outplays Los Angeles

In the second round of Group D, two underdogs faced off: LAFC and Espérance Tunis.

Details: The match was filled with tension, as both teams knew that a loss would almost certainly mean elimination from the group stage.

Right from the kickoff, Espérance pressed hard on their opponent’s goal, launching several dangerous attacks and even rattling the post after a powerful strike. Rodriguez fired a solid shot from inside the box, only to see the ball hit the left upright.

In response, Los Angeles orchestrated a swift attack that ended with Olivier Giroud finding the net. Unfortunately for LAFC, the goal was disallowed for offside against the Frenchman.

By the 28th minute, a second goal was chalked off: Los Angeles executed another sharp move, but Martinez’s finish was also ruled out.

The second half began with Espérance continuing their aggressive play, which resulted in a penalty being awarded against Los Angeles. Referee Espen Eskås initially judged Denis Bouanga to have committed a foul in the box. However, after a VAR review, the decision was overturned and the penalty was canceled.

The decisive moment arrived in the 71st minute: Espérance launched a lightning-fast counterattack, the ball ricocheted in the penalty area to Belaïli, who skillfully beat his marker and fired a shot right between Hugo Lloris’s legs.

As a result, after two rounds in Group D, Flamengo leads the group and has already secured qualification, while Chelsea and Espérance Tunis will battle for the second spot. Los Angeles, meanwhile, will look to put up a fight against the Brazilian side in the final round.

See also: Flamengo advances to the playoffs after Espérance’s win over LAFC