Elias Mokwana did not have the best of games, as his team, Esperance, laboured to a 1-0 win over Los Angeles at Geodis Park in Nashville, to keep alive their chnaces of advancing from Group D.
The Red and Yellow gave Bafana Bafana international Elias Mokwana his first start in the competition after starting from the bench in the previous assignment against Flamengo.
Having lost 2-0 to the South American outfit, the Tunisian side had to get a positive outcome to avoid getting eliminated from the prestigious global club competition taking place in the United States.
Lloris keeps LA in the game, and Esperanve is saved by offside
The Tunisian heavyweights had a massive chance to score a goal within the first four minutes. Sloppy defending allowed them into the 18-yard area with Rodrigo Rodrigues finding the unmarked dangerman Youcef Belaili, in front of the goal, but Hugo Lloris pulled a great save to deny him.
In the 10th minute, Esperance threatened once again; a nice move ended with a loose ball falling just in front of Rodrigues, but his shot from 18 yards out came off the upright with the goalkeeper well beaten.
Former Chelsea and Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud thought he had scored in the 15th minute in favour of Los Angeles, but his celebrations were cut short by the assistant referee's offside flag against Denis Bouanga.
Mokwana then tested the 38-year-old Lloris with a good shot from range after working his way into a good angle following a good pass from the lively towering striker Rodrigues.
The Major Soccer League team was once again denied in the 27th minute by the offside flag despite David Martinez breaching Esperance's rear guard.
Mokwana's team ended the first half strongly, but their opponents stood firm to ensure they got something from the fixture.
Belaili scores a massive goal
As opposed to the initial half, Los Angeles needed little time to settle after the break, maybe after reading Esperance's game.
Four minutes after the restart, Belaili went down in the opponent's box and the initial decision was a penalty. However, upon review, the decision was overturned and the winger was booked for simulation.
Esperance eventually recovered from a poor start after the pause to ask questions, but they were let down by indecisiveness and poor finishing.
Mokwana was subbed alongside Rodrigues in the 61st minute, and the South African replacement Yan Sasse almost delivered four minutes later, but Lloris, once again, stood firm to clear the danger.
However, Lloris had no answer in the 70th minute; a good attack ended with the defender desperately trying to clear. But the ball went as far as the dangerous Belaili, who steadied himself, went through his marker before finding the back of the net.
In the final minute of added time, Khalil Guenichi was adjudged to have committed a foul. However, goalkeeper Bechir Ben Said guessed correctly to deny Denis Bouanga from 12 yards and win it for his team.
On Wednesday, Mokwana hopes to impress against Chelsea by helping his team get a positive result to advance. Flamengo have already advanced after two wins in the group, while Esperance and the Blues have three points each.
Los Angeles have been eliminated following back-to-back losses.
