Seven round 17 games were played earlier today across the country as Ethiopia Bunna, Electric and Hawassa Ketema emerged major winners. Sidama Bunna climbed up to be second while Jimma Aba Bunna and Wolaitta Dicha won their respective ties. Woldia and ArbaMinch share spoils.
Ethiopia Bunna trashed 10 men Mekelakeya 4-0 with a dominant display in front of a packed Addis Ababa Stadium. Mekelakeya defender Behailu Girma was sent off for a handball inside the area as the match referee awarded Bunna a penalty. Gatoch Panom stepped up to successfully convert the spot kick in the 36th minute. Five minutes later a foul on Asechalew Girma in the box rewarded Bunna with another penalty kick as Gatoch completed his brace. After the resumption Nigerian import Samuel Sanumi extended the lead to 3 with a rebound. In the dying minutes of the tie Mesoud Mohammed effort from outside the box rattled the woodwork but Abdulkerim Mohammed struck from the rebound to send Ethiopia Bunna faithful into frenzy. Ethiopia Bunna sits fourth with 28 points while Mekelakeya slipped to 10th with 21 points.
Hawassa Ketema hammered relegation battlers Ethiopia Nigd Bank 4-0 in Hawassa Stadium. Former Trans Ethiopia striker Medhane Tadesse opened the floodgates after collecting a defense splitting pass from Firew Solomon in the 14th minute. Togolese forward Arafat Djako doubled the lead 6 minutes later. Firew made it 3-0 in the 33th minute when the Bankers continued to struggle. Gadissa Mebrate struck the fourth after the recess when a dominant Hawassa side dismantled Nigd Bank. Hawassa Ketema occupies 11th with 20 points. Ethiopia Nigd Bank are 15th with 14 points.
Ethio-Electric came from a goal down to beat Dire Dawa Ketema 3-1 in Addis Ababa. Bereket Yisak gave the Easterners the lead at the half hour mark after some fine work from Surafel Daniel down the flank. Center back Bereket Tessema put Electric on level terms with a volley in the 43rd minute. A minute following the resumption of the second 45 a Tesfaye Melaku cross was headed in by Dire Dawa’s defender Bereket Samuel for an own goal. Fitsum Gebremariam sealed the win three minutes from time. Fitsum has now bagged 8 goals in the current league season. Ethio-Electric remains 12th with 19 points whilst Dire Dawa Ketema dropped into 14th with 16 points.
Sidama Bunna pip Adama Ketema to go second in the log table. Wesenu Maaze first half goal was the difference between the two sides in Yirgalem. Sidama Bunna are now second with 31 points, four adrift of table toppers Kidus Giorgis. The Yirgalem outfit has been in a fine form since the start of the second round. Adama Ketema falls to fifth with 27 points after failing to win there back to back league duels.
Wolaitta Dicha earned a vital win over Fasil Ketema in Sodo. Anagawe Badege’s first half strike was canceled out by Togolese Edem Horousvi in the 51st minute. However, new signing Temesgen Duba headed home from close range as he gives the Sodo side maximum points. Wolaitta Dicha are 9th with 21 points. Fasil Ketema dropped to 6th with 26 points following consecutive defeats.
Jimma Aba Bunna overcame Addis Ababa Ketema in relegation dogfight in Jimma. Kidane Assefa struck the solitary goal for Aba Bunna in the 21st minute. Coach Asrat Abate started off his Addis Ababa Ketema coaching debut with an away defeat. After the crucial win Gebremedhine Haile’s Jimma Aba Bunna sits 13th with 17 points. Addis Ababa Ketema remains rock bottom with 10 points.
ArbaMinch Ketema came from behind to force a draw against Woldia. Veteran striker Andualem Nigusse gave the Wollo outfit the lead three minute after the recess. Amele Milkias equalized 7 minutes later as the Crocodiles salvage a point. ArbaMinch remains 7th with 23 points while Woldia are 8th with 21 points.
Week 17 Results
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Kidus Giorgis 3-2 Dedebit
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Ethio-Electric 3-1 Dire Dawa Ketema
Hawassa Ketema 4-0 Ethiopia Nigd Bank
Woldia SC 1-1 ArbaMinch Ketema
Sidama Bunna 1-0 Adama Ketema
Wolaitta Dicha 2-1 Fasil Ketema
Jimma Aba Bunna 1-0 Addis Ababa Ketema
Ethiopia Bunna 4-0 Mekelakeya
Week 18 Fixtures
Saturday, March 11, 2017
15:00 – Dedebit vs. Woldia (Addis Ababa Stadium)
Sunday, March 12, 2017
15:00 – Ethiopia Nigd Bank vs. Jimma Aba Bunna (Addis Ababa Stadium)
15:00 – Fasil Ketema vs. Ethiopia Bunna (Fasiledes Stadium)
15:00 – Adama Ketema vs. Wolaitta Dicha (Adama Abebe Bikila Stadium)
15:00 – ArbaMinch Ketema vs. Hawassa Ketema (ArbaMinch)
16:00 – Dire Dawa Ketema vs. Sidama Bunna (Dire Dawa Stadium)
17:30 – Addis Ababa Ketema vs. Ethio-Electric (Addis Ababa Stadium)
*Week 18 game between Mekelakeya and Kidus Giorgis has been postponed to a later date due to a Total CAF Champions League tie.
