Good afternoon and welcome to our live text commentary of the CAF Champions League match between Asante Kotoko and Al Hilal.
The Ghana Premier League record holders after progressing from the preliminary stage of the CAF top-tier inter-club competition are now focused on going past the Sudanese giants.
Set for a two-legged encounter in the second round before progressing to the group stage of the competition, both Kotoko and Al Hilal look determined to pick up a positive result from the first leg.
They are hence poised for action and ready to give their all today.
The clash has been scheduled to kick-off at 15:00GMT and will be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Below is the Asante Kotoko starting eleven for the Al Hilal game.
Check out the Al Hilal starting lineup for this afternoon's encounter.
Aboeshren(GK), Mohammed Ahmed, Saeed Ahmed, Waleed Hamid, Hamid Nassir, Mohammed Ouattara, Faris Mamoun, Omer Ahmed, Abdeen Maki, Eid Mugadam, Mohamed Yousif.
Warm-ups done...Kick-off is NEXT!!#AKSC #KOTHIL #CAFCL pic.twitter.com/L6ax3FTCxe
— Asante Kotoko SC (@AsanteKotoko_SC) December 23, 2020
Sit back and enjoy the live text commentary from the footballghana.com team.
The two teams are led out by the match officials as we prepare for kick-off.
Kick-off:
1' And we are off at the Accra Sports Stadium with Al Hilal kicking us off. Who gets to score first.
3' Al Hilal with a bright start to the game. A series of good passing play results in a corner from the left side. A scramble in the Kotoko area but Ibrahim Imoro clears into the half of the visitors.
8' Chance!! Al Hilal wastes a glorious opportunity. That should have been a goal. Mohammed Yussif (Al Hilal) connects to Eid Eldin's pass into the goal area but hits the ball a whisker of the upright.
10' Asante Kotoko having a problem dealing with the midfield of Al Hilal. At this point, most of the passes of the Reds are not going through. Things need to change.
15' Abuaagla Abdalla tries to find Mohammed Yussif with a long pass into our penalty box but fails as Razak Abalora comes out to pick the ball.
18' Free-kick to Asante Kotoko in a dangerous area. Ibrahim Imoro takes but his effort flies over the bar from a long distance.
20' Kwame Poku gets on the end of a counter-attack. His final touch after beating his marker to enter the Al Hilal area lets him down. A fine opportunity goes to waste.
25' We are five minutes away from hitting the half-hour mark. Al Hilal has been the better side so far.
28' Kotoko gradually picking up the pace. The team has in the last few minutes managed to play some delightful passing play.
30' It has been a rather calm afternoon at the Accra Sports Stadium. Al Hilal has been the better side and could have been up by a goal. More time for Asante Kotoko to take charge of matters before the halftime break.
35' Emmanuel Gyamfi tries the bicycle kick but fails to apply the needed connection. Al Hilal clears.
38' Al Hilal continue to enjoy the lion's share of possession. Their defense has stood strong as well.
42' Exchange of attacks as both teams pushes for a goal to talk into the break. Still no goals.
45' Referee wastes no time as he whistles to end the first half. We are back after 15 minutes with the second half updates.
Second half:
46' Games has restarted at the Accra Sports Stadium. Asante Kotoko 0-0 Al Hilal.
50' William Opoku Mensah jumps towards Christopher Nettey's inswinger into the penalty box but is beaten to it by the Al Hilal goalkeeper.
55' Temporal hold up as the Al Hilal goalkeeper receives medical help for what appears to be a deliberate attempt to run down the clock.
60' Asante Kotoko looks to have improved after the break. The team with good attacking play but lacking the final finish.
62' Al Hilal breaks on a counter-attack. Chance but defender Imoro Ibrahim times his header to deny the visitors what could have been a goal. Great defending.
68' #AKSC 0 vs 0 Hilal
SUB!#AKSC #KOTHIL #CAFCL pic.twitter.com/fSBU6NDfKT
— Asante Kotoko SC (@AsanteKotoko_SC) December 23, 2020
70' Asante Kotoko continues to lose the midfield battle. The Porcupine Warriors have been better than they were in the first half but certainly second to the opponent.
75' Match has intensified in the last couple of minutes. Both teams are pushing forward to get a goal. Will there be a winner in this one?
77' Vinny Bongonga with a cool finish as he tabs in Mohammed Quatarra's pass into the penalty box.
85' A cross is whipped into the box by Muniru Sulley, but Naby Keita cannot quite direct his header as it goes to touch.
89' Mohammed Musah is fed inside our penalty box by Edin Omer, but Razak Abolara is alert and saves his feeble shot.
90' The fourth official has signaled for 6 minutes added time.
Full time:
It is all over at the Accra Sports Stadium. Asante Kotoko 0-1 Al Hilal.