Medeama close to semi-final berth

Medeama Sporting Club were yesterday forced to dig deep to secure a 3-2 victory over a stubborn T.P. Mazembe side to move a point close to qualifying for the semi-final of the  CAF Confederation Cup.

The Ghanaian side nearly paid a big price for allowing the visiting side to claw back from a two-goal deficit to send the match minutes away from a 2-2 draw. But  in a dramatic finish, Medeama gathered strength and stepped on the accelerator to score the winning goal in the 90th minute through their talisman Kwasi Donsu. The goal got the stadium erupting with joy as the club won their second successive home game in the competition to revive their chances of a semis berth.

The hosts jumped into the lead in the 32nd minute through Enoch Atta-Agyei whose free kick slipped through the hands of Medeama goalkeeper, Gbohouo Sylvester.

By the 59th minute, Medeama had the game under control when Moses Sarpong increased the lead through a spot kick.

Medeama’s joy was, however, shortlived as the visiting side pulled a goal back two minutes later through their captain, Jonas Sakuwaha, and the goal boosted Mazembe’s confidence as they took the game to the home side.

The experienced Congolese side did not give up the fight as they stepped up their game and pulled even with their second goal in the 72nd minute through Rainford Kalaba, after which Mazembe briefly took control of the game and came close to scoring the winning goal in the 80th minute.

With their chances slipping away by the minute, Medeama’s influential midfielder, Donsu, found himself at the right place at the right time in added-on time to fire home the winning goal to the delight of the home fans at the Sekondi Stadium at Essipon.

The victory moved Medeama to second spot on the Group A log with five points, three points off leaders TP Mazembe, who had booked their place in the semis even before yesterday’s clash.