Egyptian giants Al Ahly edged closer to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League when thrashing Berekum Chelsea 4-1 in Group A in Cairo on Saturday.

But both sides finished the match with ten men after Richard Kissi-Boateng and Wael Gomaa were sent-off in either half respectively.

The victory means the six-time champions maintain their perfect record, having won all their three matches at the half-way stage of the competition.

Ahly just need a point from their next two encounters to reach the semi-final while the Ghanaian must win at least two matches from the remaining three to have any chance of advancing.

The Egyptians drew first blood through El Said on 17 minutes through a thunderbolt from outside the 18-yard box after connecting beautifully from a neat pass from Mohammed Barakat.

Chelsea looked lethargic and out of sorts as their hosts scored their second in the 33rd minutes through a glancing header from Nagieb.

But the Ghanaian side responded in a swift fashion and reduced the deficit from the spot through in-form striker Emmanuel Clottey.

Clottey's goal came two minutes before the break to increase his goal tally to 12 in the competition and inch closer to equaling Stephen Worghu's 13 goals haul set in 2007.

Ahly quickly recovered in the second half and increased their tally through Soliman.

He sliced between two defenders and volleyed the ball into the net for the third goal before he put the ice on the cake with his personal second to make it four on the night.

The victory has put the Red Devils on top of the group with maximum nine points from three games.

Chelsea will slip to third on the table after TP Mazembe beat Zamalek 2-0 in Lubumbashi.