ABIDJAN: ASEC of Ivory Coast continued an African Champions League revival on Sunday with a crucial 2-0 win over Esperance of Tunisia that keeps alive hopes of reaching the semi-finals. A comfortable victory for the 1998 African champions followed an equally vital win over Al-Hilal of Sudan at Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in the Ivorian commercial capital two weeks ago. The two triumphs followed a disastrous start by the Mimosas in which they collected just one point from three matches and were staring elimination from the $3.5 million competition. Success over hard working but unimaginative Esperance lifted ASEC to seven points from five matches, one more than Hilal, who host title holders and pool leaders Al-Ahly of Egypt later Sunday. Esperance, champions in 1994 and runners-up in 1999 and 2000, have four points and cannot reach the penultimate phase even if they defeat Hilal at home on September 2 in the final round. The Tunisian Blood and Gold took on the Ivorian Mimosas in high spirits after inflicting the first Champions League defeat this year on Ahly in Tunis two weeks ago. A featureless first half ended goalless with ASEC having a slight territorial edge on a hard, bumpy pitch as the teams struggled to retain possession in stifling heat. And the second-half fare was no better until an own goal by Kamel Zaiem after 60 minutes gave ASEC an advantage that was rarely threatened before Ali Diarra scored the decisive second goal 12 minutes from full-time. A lofted through ball from midfield set up the first goal with Ghana-born ASEC striker Nafiu Iddrisu getting in a shot which goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui saved only for the ball to rebound off Zaiem into the net. Diarra rose unopposed to steer a cross low past Kasraoui into the corner of the net for the second goal and ASEC now prepare for a difficult final hurdle away to Ahly in Cairo.
