The first half of the Ethiopian Higher League came to an end as games that took place on Wednesday and Thursday completed match day 13.
Group A
Leaders Ethiopia Nigid Bank drew 0-0 with Sendafa Beke. Nigid Bank were the better side when it came to chance creation but failed to convert any of them. The side finish the first half of the season top of the group.
Bench Maji Bunna got a 2-1 win against Batu Ketema to finish in second spot. The game was without a goal in the first half. It was Batu Ketema who took the lead in the 69th minute through Temesgen Kebeto’s strike. Bench Maji scored in the 91st and 93rd minutes of the game to secure the win. Endalemaw Dekre and Hassan Hussein managed to score the goals in the said minutes.
In the other games of group Jimma Aba Bunna drew 0-0 with Woldia Ketema, Sebeta Ketema got a 1-0 win against Durame Ketema, Wollo Kombolcha won by the same score line against Butajira Ketema, Halaba Ketema and Akaki Kaliti ended their game in a 0-0 draw while the game between Addis Ketema Kifle Ketema and Gamo Chencha ended in the same score line.
Group B
Addis Ababa Ketema beat Nib 1-0 to finish top of the group at the half way point of the season. Neither side managed to register any shots on target in the first half of the game while the second half was an exciting affair. Haji Kemal scored the winner in the dying minutes of the game to hand Addis Ababa Ketema all three points.
Shashemene Ketema beat Jinka Ketema 1-0 to go level on points with Addis Ababa Ketema but are in second place based on goal difference.
The highest scoring spectacle saw Yirga Chefe Bunna get a 3-2 victory against bottom side club Ambo Ketema.
In the other games Boditi Ketema lost 0-1 to Semien Shewa Debrebirhan, Nekemte Ketema beat Kenbata Shinshicho 2-0, Kefa Bunna were defeated 0-1 by Injibara Ketema, while Gulele Ketema lost 1-2 to Kirkos Kifle Ketema.
Group C
Hambericho Durame got a 1-0 win against Yeka Kifle Ketema to maintain their top status and 4 point advantage at the group. Endale Yohannes’s header in the 58th minute was the decisive moment in a tightly contested affair.
Gelan Ketema managed to beat Damot Ketema 3-1 to go on 24 points. Sodo Ketema and Burayu Ketema drew 2-2 in a four goal thriller while Jimma Aba Jifar and Silte Wurabe finished their game goalless.
In the rest of the ties Kolfe Keranio lost 0-2 to Federal Police while Negele Arsi beat Robe Ketema 4-2.
The second half of the season will resume after 44 days on March 19.