Ethiopia edge Sudan to clinch third spot

 Dar es Salaam. Hosts of the 2015 Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, Ethiopia, will have something to celebrate after edging Sudan to claim the third place.

The victory means that they will not go home empty-handed. They won 5-4 on post-match penalties against Sudan after a one-all draw in the third-place playoff.

The Walias will pocket a $10, 000 cash prize (approximately Sh20 million).

Ethiopia, enjoying an electric atmosphere at the Addis Ababa Stadium, kicked off the match brightly and skipper Panom Gathuoch went close to opening the scoring early on with a well taken free kick.

Sudan had a reply of their own three minutes later when Bakri Bashi’s cross from the left was missed by everyone in the Ethiopia defence and Ascahlew Tamene raced quickly to chest the ball back to his goalkeeper when Mohammed Koko was just about to pull the trigger.

With both teams settling to cool the tempo and the hosts dictating the tempo in the middle of the park, Sudan who majorly relied on their wingers broke lose again and won a corner.

Mahir Idriss’s short start found Captain Faris Mamoun whose shot was blocked by the Ethiopian defence.

Sudan could have gone into the lead after Anteneh Tesfaye’s half cleared ball found Captain Mamoun but the left back shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The half was to end in a scoreless stalemate.

On resumption, both coaches made substitutions with Ethiopia sending in Addisu Tesfaye for Yared Bayeh while Sudan replaced Ibrahim Hassan for Walaedlin Yagoub.

Shortly after the restart, Sudan almost went into the lead when Ydenekachew Kidane in the Ethiopian goal was adjudged to have collected a back pass from his defender Anteneh Tesfaye; the referee giving an indirect free kick to the Sudanese. Mamoun stepped up and his stinging shot was saved by Anteneh.

The hosts were not to wait for long though for the opener. After a neat interchange of passes in the middle of the park, defender Behaylu Girma squared the ball to Eliyas Mamo, the midfielder saw Mohammed Mustafa in the Sudanese goal off his line and shot straight into the net to give the hosts the lead.

The Sudanese pilled pressure and were rewarded eight minutes from time with a well taken goal. Captain Faris Mamoum, who had been influential for the better part of the game, found substitute Musa Yagoub who despite being under a lot of pressure sent a veracious left foot shot to restore parity for the 2013 finalists.

With the Sudanese Coach sensing the game was to be decided on penalties, he sent first choice goalkeeper Akran Salim for Mustafa Mohammed with seconds to go.