Ethiopian flag barriers Fasil Kenema and Ethiopia Bunna were forced for an early exit from their continental journey.
Ethiopia Bunna were without their star player Abubeker Nasser and Mikias Mekonnen as both players miss out due to injury, replaced by the veteran Seyoum Tesfaye and Alazar Shimeles.
In the match where Ethiopia Bunna’s lack of squad depth was boldly witnessed, the browns as usual had a greater share of the ball and created good scoring chances, Abebe Tilahun’s free kick effort, and Asrat Tunjo’s effort after being put through by Tafesse Solomon and Endale Debalke’s attempt that rattled the upright were the closest in the first half.
Meanwhile the visitors URA were very compact without the ball and project themselves while they regain possession, at the latter stages of the first half this was in display Cromwell Rotomiyo’s headed attempts were signs for the things to come as the visitors took the lead as Cromwell Rothomio gave them the breakthrough lead at the closing stage of the first half.
After the restart Ethiopia Bunna who needed three goals to turn the tie were aggressively launching offense but that was a blessing in disguise for URA as they hit them on the counter.
On the 52nd minute, Mandela Ashraf strike from tight angel and also URA’s skipper Kagimu Shafik goal after three minutes made the tie out of Ethiopia Bunna’s reach.
The remaining minutes saw URA defending deep while Ethiopia Bunna desperately continued to find gaps and score eventually they found a conciliation goal in the 70th minute from Asrat Tunjo’s successful spot kick.
Ethiopia Bunna, who were returning to continental football after 10 years of absence bow out of the CAF confederation cup with an aggregate loss of 5-2, URA progressed to the next round.
Meanwhile the reigning Ethiopian champions Fasil Kenema also failed to progress with an away goal role favoring the other side after finishing their tie 3-3 with Sudanese counterpart Al Hilal Omdurman.
In what was an evenly contested encounter both teams did their best to control the ball, both sets of teams’ points of attack were merely from the wings.
On the 24th minute, Mohammed Abdulrahman slotted home from close range after his teammate Yasser Muzemil did an incredible job by getting past two players.
On 80th minute Surafel Dangachew’s long range free kick aided by a slight deflection from Hilal players turned into a goal that tied both sides on the night and also in aggregate.
With no goals scored in the remaining minutes Al Hilal progressed to the second preliminary round at the expense of Fasil thanks to their two all draw in Bahirdar Last weekend.
