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Robbed - Almost
They set the Arab Spring in motion a year ago by taking to the streets to oust former dictator Zine el-Abidine ben Ali and their footballers continued that tradition surprising North-African neighbours Morocco with a sterling display that saw them beat Morocco 2-1 . However, a very poor refereeing decision almost undid their hard work by gifting Morocco an 86th minute goal.
Morocco's captain Houssine Kharja swept in from about 10 yards out after being found by Ahmed Kantari's nod back from the far post. Kantari was at least two yards offside, but the officoials missed it and gave Morocco a route back into a match they didn't deserve on the balance of paly. Adding insult to injury a scuffle followed that resulted in Ammar Jemal being booked.
Advantage Tunisia
A freakish 25 yard free-kick by Khaled Korbi punished Mehdi el Mouttaqi's indiscretion for fouling Zouhaier Dhaouadi with more than just a yellow card. Korbi's 23 yard free-kick cleared the wall and everything bar possibly striker Saber Khalifa's hair. Nadir Lamyaghri scrambled across his goal, but could not kerep it out. Khalifa credited Korbi.
Previously an excellent effort by Dhaouadi hit the post with Lamyaghri well beaten. "We played too much with our hearts and not enough with our brains," said Morocco's captain Kharja. "It's the first competition for a lot of players. We're a bit disappointed. I'd like to congratulate Tunisia, but for our second match against Gabon, we're going to prepare really well and I think we can win."
While the Moroccans thought they deserved a draw, Tunisia's captain Karim Haggui thanked them for the match, but was delighted to win. Neither he nor his coach commented on the off-side goal that South African referee Daniel Bennett allowed, although his assistant should have made the call.
The Good and Bad of Chamakh
It wasn't all one way traffic. Ahmed Kantari fed Marouane Chamakh, leaving the Arsenal striker just Aymmen Mathlouthi to beat from a few yards out, but the Tunisian keeper rescued his team with a fine reflex save, although the Arsenal striker reallt ought to have gicen him no chance.
He was given some rough treatment by Aymen Abdennour who tried to wrestle him to the ground before getting his foot head high to concede free-kick that Mathlouthi tipped over. Just before half time Younes Belhanda weaved his way to the danger area but pulled his shot just wide. In injury time Chamakh tried to punch the ball into the Tunisian net, but connected with Mathouthi, who still managed to tip the ball wide. Haggui remonstrated with Chamakh over it.
The sublime and the Outrageous
"I think we played pretty well" said Moroco's coach Eric Gerets. "For at least 28 minutes in second half I think we played very good football. We were fighting until the end. We played against a good team. The fact that we lost the game is a little bit our fault as we lost a little bit of discipline. I think that could be a lesson for us. For 8 minutes we played with our hearts."
Nevertheless, the moment of the match was provided by substitute Youssef Msakni. Yasine Chikhaoui can claim an assist of sorts as he passed to the talented 21-year-old midfielder, who embarked on a mazy run that embarassed the Moroccan defence. After wending his way into the area he shot across Lamyaghri to double Tunisia's lead. His marvellous work was almost undone by shocking officiating.
"You can try to improve on my choices, but in terms of journalists I could ask even stupider questions," Gerets said. "The second match against Gabon will be a real test for us. I'm already curious about what their tactics are going to be. i wanted to watch it [Gabon's match] but an official chased me away.
So where does the defeat leave Morocco now? "Of cousrse that puts a lot of pressuure on us," Gerets said. "If you lose a game you could be out."
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