Berekum Chelsea and Attram De Visser Advance to MTN FA Cup Semifinals
In an exhilarating day of football at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Berekum Chelsea and Attram De Visser secured their places in the semifinals of the MTN FA Cup, showcasing remarkable determination and skill.
Berekum Chelsea advanced after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over rivals Bechem United, with Stephen Amankonah scoring the decisive goal in the 30th minute. The match was an action-packed encounter, lived up to its billing as an all-Premier League clash. Amankonah, leading a well-drilled Chelsea side that included Mezack Afriyie, Jona Attuquaye, and Zackaria Fuseini, fired the first shot on target in the 10th minute. Bechem United’s goalkeeper, Aziz Adaari, made a fine save to deny him.
The game saw an early substitution for Bechem United, with Yaw Annor replaced by Cephas Martey in the 25th minute. Moments later, Amankonah found the back of the net with a powerful strike from inside the box, sending Chelsea fans into jubilation. Following the goal, Berekum Chelsea grew in confidence, controlling the game but failing to extend their lead as they ended the first half with a slim advantage.
The second half turned more physical as both teams pressed for goals. Mezack Afriyie squandered a golden opportunity in the 68th minute, while Edwin Asamoah fired wide in the 82nd minute. Bechem United pushed forward in search of an equalizer, but Berekum Chelsea’s defense held strong, securing their spot in the semifinals of the 2024/25 MTN FA Cup.
In the other quarterfinal, Attram De Visser triumphed in a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout against PAC Academy after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. PAC Academy took the lead in the 63rd minute with a penalty from Evans Sarfo, putting Attram De Visser on the back foot. However, they equalized in thrilling fashion when Gabriel Matumassey scored a dramatic goal in the 93rd minute, forcing the game into penalties.
Substitute goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Ibrahim emerged as the hero for Attram De Visser, making two crucial saves during the shootout, denying both Samed Kyei and Bernard Asante. His performance secured Attram De Visser’s first-ever semifinal spot in the MTN FA Cup, marking a significant achievement for the club.
