Bahirdar close the gap with last-gasp win over Ethiopian Insurance

Photo Credit: Ethiopian Premier League

Bahirdar Ketema came from behind to defeat league leaders Ethiopian Insurance 2-1 in a Week 28 top-of-the-table clash at Hawassa Artificial Ground. The game between the two league leaders had been postponed to a later date due to a waterlogged pitch at Hawassa University Stadium. Bahirdar won the match at the death, courtesy of a goal from Henok Yibeletal.

The first half saw Bahirdar’s dominance and Insurance’s potent attacking approach. The Addis Ababa side put up a strong defensive display and tried to score on the counter. Ethiopian international Ramadan Youssuf’s left-footed strike inside the area gave Insurance the lead after a superb pass from Wogene Gezaghen.

Bahirdar coach Degarege Yigzaw brought in former Fasil Kenema striker Mujib Kassim before the start of the second half, and it paid off. The former Ethiopian Premier League top scorer equalized with an excellent finish.

Yibeletal, a product of the Bahirdar Ketema youth team, won the match for the Waves of Tana as they closed the gap to eight points.

Ethiopian Insurance suffered their fourth league defeat of the season but still tops the standings with 54 points. Bahirdar Ketema reclaimed second position from Ethiopian Coffee after collecting 46 points.

Week 28 Results

Adama Ketema 0-0 Mekele 70 Enderta

Ethiopian Coffee 1-0 Hadiya Hosaina

Ethio-Electric 0-1 Saint George

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia 2-2 Wolwalo Adigrat University

Sihul Shire 1-1 Fasil Kenema

Wolayta Dicha 2-1 Arbaminch Ketema

Diredawa Ketema 0-1 Hawassa Ketema

Sidama Coffee 2-2 Mechal

Ethiopian Insurance 1-2 Bahirdar Ketema

League Table (26 matches played)

	Points
Ethiopian Insurance	54
Bahirdar Ketema	46
Ethiopian Coffee	45
Wolayta Dicha	41
Mechal	40
Saint George	40
Hadiya Hosaina	38
CBE	37
Sidama Coffee	37
Fasil Kenema	35
Arbaminch Ketema	35
Ethio Electric	32
Hawassa	31
Diredawa Ketema	29
Mekele	29
Adama Ketema	23
Sihul Shire	20
Wolwalo	13

• The bottom four clubs at the end of the season will be relegated to the Ethiopian Higher League.

Week 29 Fixtures

Saint George vs Adama Ketema

Ethiopian Coffee vs Wolayta Dicha

Arbaminch Ketema vs Hawassa Ketema

Ethio-Electric vs Sidama Coffee

Fasil Kenema vs Ethiopian Insurance

Diredawa Ketema vs Mekele 70 Enderta

Hadiya Hosaina vs Wolwalo Adigrat University

Commercial Bank of Ethiopia vs Bahirdar Ketema

Mechal vs Sihul Shire