Clottey shrugs off Sherif Mohammed Abdel challenge to face goalkeeper Ahmed
Midfielder Jordan Opoku’s second half left hook equalizer kept  Berekum Chelsea’s semi final Champions League dream alive at the Accra Stadium yesterday.
Opoku perfectly connected home an Owusu Jackson cross in the 61st to cancel Al-Ahly’s Oussou Konana Aniceth 42nd minute opener in the Champions League tie.
The 1-1 score line takes Ahly’s points to 10, as they maintain the Group B top spot, while Chelsea improved to five points.
Two clear scoring chances came the way of either side at the embryonic stages of the game, but competition top scorer Emmanuel Clottey and Waleed Soliman Saed Ebid respectively missed narrowly.
It was the Ghanaians who came close to opening the scoring in 6th minute when Clottey stretched his right foot at full length to beat onrushing goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy Ahmed Ahmed but the power behind it was feeble.
In like manner, the visitors’ striker, Waleed had only goalkeeper Abubakar Iddrisu to beat, but his sluggish approach allowed central defense pair of Ahmed Adams and Edward Kpodo who had a great afternoon, to tidy up the rear.
Jordan Opoku’s equalizer had a positive impact on the home side who played thereafter as though they were possessed, with Solomon Asante initiating most of their attacks.
That resulted in one of their threatening move where a one-two by Clottey and Bismark Idan nearly resulted in the match winner; but the latter, instead of planting the ball into the net, cleared it to safety.
Another opportunity presented itself to the Ghanaians to score and kill the game, but defender Alfred Arthur’s free kick hit the bar.
The North Africans proved lethal the few times they probed the Ghanaian defence.
The results means Ahly have qualified for the semifinals of the CAF Champions League.
The results of the other Group B Games involving TP Mazembe and Zamalek were not available at press time.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum
