Esperance de Tunis gun down ten men Al Sadd to emerge fifth in FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar |

African champions Esperance de Tunis suffered a 1-0 defeat in the hands of Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the Quarterfinals of the 2019 FIFA Clubs World Cup. Befatimbi Gomez 73rd strike last Saturday hunted the African representatives before they head home with emphatic 6-2 win over Qatar side Al Sadd in place for fifth place today.

There was only a change to Moine Chaabani’s line up against Al Hilal in the quarter final with only Abdelraouf Benguit replaced with Ben Romdhane in central midfield.

The African giants took a flying start as Hamdou Elhouni put Esperance ahead six minutes to the start of the game. The Africans were poised to end the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup on a positive note as they increased the intensity in search of the second goal.

They found answers to what they had been looking for, forward Anice Badri struck on the 13^’ and 25’ minutes to ensure Esperance lead comfortably 3-0 before the 30^th minute mark. Al Sadd player AbdelKarim Hassan was shown the exit door on 24th minute.

READ: Blow for Africa as Esperance de Tunis knockout of FIFA Club World Cup in Qatar after defeat by Al Hilal in quarter-finals

Baghdad Bounedjah converted 32’ minute penalty to pull one back for Al Sadd. The fierce Africans would never stop scoring as Hamdou Elhouni grabbed his second goal of the game to end the first half 4-1 in favor of Esperance.

But Al Sadd won’t sell an easy game for the Tunisia Premier League side, they made early intent to question the integrity of Esperance three-goal deficit as Al Sadd reduced the deficit to only two after Hassan Al-Haydos converted a penalty four minutes into the second half to make it 4-2.

On the 74^th minute, Hamdou Elhouni completed his hat-trick to emerge as the first player to score a hat-trick in the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup and join top scorer with Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah with three goals each in the tournament. Sameh Derbali made it 6-2 when it was three minutes left on the clock.

Esperance have booked the fifth place in Qatar 2019 FIFA Club World whiles Al Sadd remain the Sixth club. South American Champions Flamengo take on Al Hilal in the first semifinal of the tournament later today.