TOKYO - Moussa Narry struck five minutes from time to earn Etoile Sportive du Sahel victory over Mexico's Pachuca in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday.
Narry's 25-yard shot was deflected past Miguel Calero to give the African champions a surprise victory in front of almost 35,000 fans at Tokyo National Stadium.
Bertrand Marchand's team will next meet Copa Libertadores holders Boca Juniors on Wednesday for a place in Sunday's final in Yokohama.
The Ghanian midfielder's goal came against the run of play as, with time ebbing away, the Mexicans looked the more likely to score in what was a largely flat encounter.
Pachuca had been the better side for much of the game and their primary threat came from the boot of Christian Gimenez, with the Argentinian going close on several occasions from set-pieces.
With 29 minutes on the clock he left Etoile goalkeeper Aymen Balbouli flat-footed with his free-kick from the left side of the penalty area, only for the ball to just miss the top corner.
Seven minutes later his countryman Damian Alvarez stepped inside the Etoile defence only to see his goal-bound shot blocked thanks to the quick reflexes of captain Saif Ghezal.
Just three minutes after the restart Mahdi ben Dhifallah forced a fine save from Calero when he sent a low curling shot goalward, only for the Colombian to keep it out.
At the other end, Gimenez was denied by Balbouli midway through the second half when the Argentinian saw his curling effort pushed over the bar.
And, with 16 minutes remaining on the clock, Julio Manzur had the ball in the net for Pachuca when he slotted home from close range after Balbouli fumbled another free-kick from Gimenez, but the assistant referee had raised his flag.
But as the Mexican side pushed forward looking for the winner, Etoile caught them cold and, with five minutes to go, Narry struck a low effort from 25 yards out that clipped the heel of Leobardo Lopez before sliding under the body of Calero.
