Away points have been rare in this year's CAF Champions League but a win on the road for TP Mazembe Englebert and a potentially vital draw in Tunisia for Heartland FC of Nigeria has left both clubs on the cusp of reaching the semi-finals.

Congo DR's Mazembe beat Monomotapa 2-0 in Harare on Saturday to take their record to three wins from four matches in Group B and open up a two point lead at the top. More importantly, the result left them effectively needing just a single point to make sure of qualifying for October's semi-finals.

Heartland, for their part, forced a goalless draw away at Etoile Sahel of Tunisia later on Saturday to maintain a three point-gap between second and third place in the league. The point, which was secured by an heroic goalkeeping performance from Austin Brown, means Heartland book a place in the last four if they win their next match at home to TP Mazembe on 12 September.

In Group A, Kano Pillars boosted their semi-final hopes after joining Al Hilal at the top of the table thanks to a 2-1 win over the Sudanese side in northern Nigeria on Sunday. Both sides are two points ahead of Zesco United, who let a valuable opportunity slip when they were held to a goalless draw in Lusaka on Sunday by bottom-placed Al Merreikh.

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail
Zimbabwe's Monomotapa threatened at the start of the group campaign in July to provide more than their fair share of shock results but have lost three in a row and are beset with problems after players boycotted training before Saturday's game in a dispute over unpaid player bonuses.

This lack of preparation was emphasised in their performance at the Rufaro Stadium, where Mazembe took an early lead through Alain Kaluyitukadioko, who hit the crossbar with a driving shot soon after. Mazembe went back onto the defensive in the second half in a bid to preserve their lead but still managed a second goal when their Zambian import Given Singuluma netted on the counter-attack three minutes into stoppage time.

Heartland FC put up a stout defensive performance in Sousse to win a potentially vital point at Etoile Sahel, who were the pre-tournament favourites but are now in genuine danger of missing out on the last four. "We put up an honourable performance, we dominated the game, we created many chances, but we were up against an opponent who were disciplined and a goalkeeper who was brilliant," said Etoile's beleaguered coach Lotfi Rhimi

Pillars were forced to come from behind to beat Al Hilal and join them on seven points in Group A. Said Idris Farah stunned the home crowd with a 20th- minute goal for Al Hilal but Mohamed Gambo equalised on the stroke of half-time and Moses Ogaga grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time. Zesco United could also have moved onto seven points, and forced a three-way tie in the lead, but paid the price for a lethargic showing. The 0-0 draw with Al Merreikh represents a massive blow to their hopes of making the semi-finals at in this, their first Champions League campaign.

Zesco were under strength, with seven regulars out either because injury of suspensions, and Al Merreikh enjoyed the better of the early chances. However, the hosts did find the net early in the second half only for captain Enock Sakala's header to be ruled offside. Zesco must now claim a result against Pillars when they travel to Nigeria on 13 September. Al Hilal, meanwhile, could have already secured their semi-final appearance in three years by that point, provided they take maximum points from their meeting Al Merreikh on 11 September.