A second half goal from veteran forward Adane Girma gave Kidus Giorgis a slender win over Congo Republic side CARA Brazzaville in CAF Total Confederations Cup first leg duel at the Addis Ababa Stadium. The Horsemen needed to wait till the 78th minute mark to get the winner over a very defensive CARA side.
Fewer attempts on goal were seen in the first interval as the home side to break down the visitors defending approach. Although, Kidus Giorgis saw much of the possession, they failed to create clear cut scoring chances during the half. CARA Brazzaville players did so little to initiate counter attack opportunities as they were limited to defending.
The tie’s best goal scoring chance came in the 52nd minute when CARA goalie Chansel Mohikola fingertip and the post collectively saved the Congolese side from trailing away after a Behailu Assefa’s perfect strike at edge of the box. Kidus Giorgis persisted on their domination for the reminder of the second 45 but yet again came short of creating good chances as they oftentimes deploy crosses to the danger zone which were an easy task for CARA defenders to clear the ball out of their area. Second half substitute Adane put the homers ahead 12 minutes before full time when he heads Behailu’s effort into an empty net following Mohikola’s goalkeeping howler. CARA almost leveled matters in the 87th minute through Cabwey Kivutuka when his overhead kick strike was collected by Kidus Giorgis’s Ugandan goalie Robert Odongkara.
Kidus Giorgis took a 1-0 lead to the second leg in Brazzaville which is slated for April 18.
