Esperance and Al Ahly are through to the semi-finals of the African Champions League after they both recorded victories in the latest round of matches.

The top two teams in each group advance and both sides cannot now finish lower than second in their respective tables.

Defending champions Esperance beat fellow Tunisians Etoile du Sahel 2-0 to maintain their 100% record in Group A.

However, the match, which was played in front of Etoile supporters only, was interrupted by pitch invasions after both goals and police used tear gas to disperse people from the pitch.

Karim Aouadhi scored the opener in the 41st minute, while Yanick N’Djeng’s 74th-minute goal sealed the victory for Esperance, who extend their unbeaten run in the competition to 20 matches spanning two seasons.

Egyptian club Al Ahly consolidated their place at the top of Group B despite losing their 100% record in a 1-1 draw with Berekum Chelsea in Ghana.

The seven-time champions Ahly had beaten Chelsea in Cairo two weeks ago and this time they took the lead through Oussou Konan Anicet just before half-time.

Jordan Opoku equalised shortly after the break when he volleyed home and although either side could have won it late in the game, they had to settle for a draw.

Chelsea coach Hans Van der Plyum said: “We had three or four good chances we should have taken.

“In these top matches you have to take the minimum chances you get. In my opinion, Al Ahly is a very strong team and you saw the experience.

“They were very strong. I think the result is not bad but not good enough.”

In Group A’s other match, AS Chlef lost 2-1 to visiting Sunshine Stars of Nigeria on Friday evening – a result that means the Algerians cannot progress in the competition.

Sunshine lead Etoile by three points, while Chlef have now lost all four of their group matches so far and remain bottom of the table without a single point.

Sunshine took the lead against AS Chlef on the stroke of half-time as Cameroonian Medrano Tamen finished off a counter-attack by the Nigerian side.

The hosts equalised shortly after the break through another Cameroonian Anicet Eyenga but Chlef’s hopes of a win ended when Sabri Gharbi was sent off in the 65th minute.

Just seven minutes later Akombo Ukeyima fired the ball into the roof of the net to seal the win for the Nigerian side.

And in Group B, Zamalek failed to keep alive their slim hopes of progressing from the group when they fell 2-1 to TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The match, which was played behind closed doors as a result of security concerns, was a must-win game for the Egyptian White Knights but they remain pointless in the group after four matches and cannot now qualify for the semi-finals.

Mazemebe took the lead in the match when Tresor Mputu’s corner was finished off by Hijani Himoonde but Zamalek responded almost immediately, Razak Omotoyossi notching an equaliser.

Just before half-time Mazemebe profited from another Mputu corner, this time Mbwana Samata was the man to put the ball in the back of the net.

The result lifted four-time African champions Mazembe up to second in the table, three points behind leaders Al Ahly.