African champs out of world club tournament

The victory was a testament to the importance of taking one's chances, with the Qataris advancing despite spending the vast majority of this match firmly on the back foot. Esperance were dominant from the outset, and Al-Sadd keeper Mohamed Saqr was twice called upon to deny the Tunisians' Cameroonian striker, Yannick Ndjeng, inside the opening eight minutes.

The African champions also had the game's outstanding player in Youssef Msakni, who lit up the match in 19 minutes with a superb piece of skill on the left flank. Flicking the ball cheekily around his statuesque marker, the talented youngster spun away before bursting past another defender and into the Al-Sadd box.