ES Setif coach Rachid Taoussi has admitted that they came short on experience compared to Al-Ahly, leading to their Caf Champions League exit at the semifinal stage.
The Algerians beat Al-Ahly 2-1 at home but that was not enough to progress to the final as they succumbed to a 3-2 aggregate scoreline, following a 2-0 defeat in the first leg away in Cairo.
As Setif pressed for two goals in the final 20 minutes of the match to advance to the final, and Al-Ahly proved their steely resistance, exhibiting their big-match temperament.
“Al-Ahly has many experienced players who can score goals once they have a chance and that is what happened in the game,” Taoussi was quoted as saying by Egypt Today.
“We bounced back after Soliman’s first goal and we were so close to achieving a historic comeback. It was our best game in the season so far.”
In a season which they had been impressive, especially knocking out defending champions Wydad Casablanca in the quarter-finals, Setif crashed out of the tournament in painful fashion.
A spirited performance saw them attempting to nullify Walid Soliman’s opener and away goal for Al-Ahly, by responding with two goals inside five minutes from Mohamed Bakir and substitute Houssam Ghacha.
But their threat to go on a rampage and make a sensational comeback were quashed by the eight-time champions who showed why they are seasoned campaigners in this tournament.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
