ES Hamam-Sousse edged out Esperance Sportive Zarzis 2-1 in a tightly contested International Club Friendly at the Stade Municipal de Hamam-Sousse on Saturday, August 1, 2026. The Tunisian second-tier sides used the match as a key part of their pre-season preparations, with both coaches rotating squads and testing tactical shape ahead of the new campaign. Hamam-Sousse struck twice either side of a Zarzis response to claim a morale-boosting victory in front of their home supporters.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, Hamam-Sousse looked eager to impose themselves on home turf. Their pressing game disrupted Zarzis's build-up play and led to an early opener in the 18th minute. A well-worked move down the right flank ended with a low cross being turned home from close range, giving the hosts the ideal start. Zarzis gradually settled into the contest and began to control possession in midfield, but they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a compact Hamam-Sousse back line.

The away side’s equalizer came shortly after the half-hour mark. A quick counter-attack caught the home defense out of position, and a composed finish from inside the box made it 1-1. The score remained deadlocked at the break, with both teams showing plenty of industry but little in the way of sustained attacking fluency. After the interval, the match opened up as fresh legs and substitutions changed the dynamic.

Key Moments and Tactical Story

Hamam-Sousse regained the advantage in the 58th minute when a free kick from a dangerous central position was headed onto the crossbar, and the rebound was volleyed in on the follow-up. That goal proved to be the decisive moment, as Zarzis pushed forward in search of another equalizer but found the home defense resolute. The match saw several tactical shifts:

• Early pressing: Hamam-Sousse’s high press forced errors and created an early breakthrough.
• Midfield battle: Zarzis took control in spells but lacked a final pass in the final third.
• Set-piece threat: Both goals from Hamam-Sousse came from dangerous deliveries into the box.
• Second-half substitutions: Fresh attacking players for both sides increased the tempo and stretched the game.

Standout Players

The Hamam-Sousse match-winner was the most impressive player on the pitch, showing sharp instincts to react first at the rebound. In midfield, the home captain anchored the side with disciplined positioning and simple distribution, while the left-back’s forward runs provided an extra outlet throughout the second half. For Zarzis, their central midfielder worked tirelessly and launched several attacking moves, and the forward who scored the equalizer displayed clinical finishing when it mattered.

What It Means

For ES Hamam-Sousse, the victory adds confidence and momentum as they complete their pre-season schedule. The performance highlighted their ability to win physical battles and execute on set pieces, traits that will be valuable in competitive league action. Esperance Sportive Zarzis will take positives from their spells of controlled possession and their resilience after going behind, though they will need to sharpen their final-third decision-making before the season opener. With both teams still fine-tuning their lineups, friendly results like this offer a valuable measuring stick for the challenges ahead.