Ethiopia defeat CAR 2-1 on way to final qualifying round for World Cup

September 7, 2013

The win and subsequent three points confirms Ethiopia’s place at the top of Group A with 13 points while CAR finished bottom of the group with a meagre three points.

Ethiopia needed a win to confirm their progress into the final qualifying round for Brazil next year, but they certainly didn’t get off to the best start and found themselves trailing by a goal to nil in the 23rd minute.

Defender Salif Keita gave CAR the lead with a clinical finish, 1-0, as his side dictated terms for long periods in the first half.

The second 45, however, saw the Ethiopians come out of their shells and they soon levelled matters three minutes after the restart as Ahmed equalised for the visitors, 2-0.

Ethiopia began to press forward after that and applied pressure on the CAR goal.

It seemed only a matter of time before the away team found their second goal and it came in the 61st minute.

Teshome, the man who cost Ethiopia three points for playing when suspended, grabbed the winner for the Ethiopians, 2-1, a goal that saw them top Group A despite South Africa’s 4-1 win over Botswana in the other group match.