Ismaili have taken the driver's seat

Supported by 23,000 fans in their first-leg semi-final tie at the Ismailia stadium, the Egyptians put the Tunisian champions under pressure from the very start.

Defender Zied Triki - who was sent off in the second half - committed a foul on Ismaili's Malian striker Dramane Traore in the 4th minute and earned himself a suspension from the return leg in Tunis.

Following a brief battle for midfield possession, the Egyptians took control of the game and forced Esperance goalkeeper Jean-Jacques Tizie to make several saves.

But the Tunisian champions caved under the pressure in the 30th minute, when Traore latched onto a pass from Mohamed Abou Greisha and stabbed the ball past Tizie.

An injury to Ismaili's Amr Fahim caused anxiety amongst fans at the end of the first half, as he was taken to hospital for further treatment.

But fears of a serious mishap were dispelled when he was brought back to the bench in the game's latter stages.

Esperance withstood Ismaili's incessant attacks in the second half to score their equaliser in the 70th minute.

Earning a corner against the run of play, Radhi Jaidi rose above the Ismaili defenders in the penalty box to nod the ball past goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhy.

Esperance had a poor game in Ismailia

After recovering from the shock goal, Ismaili turned the heat on the visitors and earned a well deserved penalty in the 85th minute, when Mohamed Abdullah was brought down in the box by Jose Clayton.

Hosni Abd Rabbou made no mistake from the spot, as he slotted the ball past Tizie's right side.

The Tunisians subsequently lost their defensive discipline and conceded their third goal a minute later, when Lanfia Doubate scored a spectacular volleyed goal after they failed to clear a lobbed cross.