Getaneh Kebede’s brace helped Ethiopia edge out Lesotho 2-1 in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier on Sunday afternoon.
The Group J encounter was played at the Setsoto Stadium in Lesotho’s capital city, Maseru.
Ethiopia’s Waila ibex remain second on Group J standings with eight points, while Lesotho’s Likoena also stay fourth on the table.
Walia ibex made their intentions clear as early as the eighth minute when Getaneh Kebede forced Lesotho goalkeeper Daniel Jousse into a great save.
The home side were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Ethiopia box and Likoena midfielder Jeremiah Kamele was denied by keeper Abel Mamo.
In the 22nd minute, University of Pretoria striker Kebede’s cross beat keeper Jousse, but the ball missed the target as the visitors pressed for the opener.
However, the opening goal finally came on the stroke of half-time and it was Kebede who fired past Jousse with a good shot which sailed into the back of the net.
Kebede grabbed his brace and Ethiopia’s second goal nine minutes after the restart when he scored with a good finish following a mistake in the Lesotho defence.
Sunny Jane pulled one back for the home side a minute before the hour-mark with a great first-time shot which beat Walia ibex shot-stopper Mamo hands down.
In 68th minute, Mugher Cement shot-stopper Mamo was booked for time wasting by the referee as Likoena pressed Walia ibex defence for the equalizing goal.
Tsepo Seturumane had a chance to snatch a late equalizer for Lesotho with eight minutes left on the clock, but the striker’s attempt was comfortably saved by Mamo.
Nevertheless, Ethiopia managed to contain Lesotho in the remaining minutes and the Walia ibex emerged 2-1 winners on the day.
Lesotho (0) 1 (Jane 59′)
Ethiopia (1) 2 (Kebede 45′, 54′)
Lesotho XI: Jousse, Moremoholo, Makepe (c), Tseka, Sello; Kamela, Potloane, Sonopo, Jane, Thaba-Ntšo; Seturumane
Ethiopia XI: Abel, Abdulkerim, Aschalew, Anteneh, Ahmed, Shimekit, Gatoch, Shimelis, Ephrem, Dawit, Getaneh (c)
