Ethiopia holds Zambia in bad-tempered match

By Omondi Onyatta

 A ten-man Walia Antelopes of Ethiopia held off sporadic attacks from Chipolopolo of Zambia to claim a 1-1 draw in a 2013 AFCON Group C match at the Mbombela Stadium yesterday.

The quarter-full stadium watched in amazement as the Eastern Africans came back from a goal down to snatch a point from the defending champions.

Ethiopia, making their maiden appearance after a 30-year hiatus, almost took the lead after Salahdin Said’s chip over the keeper hit the crossbar. Later, he won his side a penalty after a foul by Chisamba Lungu.

Sadly for the Antelopes, Zambian custodian Kennedy Mweene rose to the occasion by punching the resultant spot-kick out of play.

Zambia settled down and gradually asserted their presence in the game. Ethiopian keeper Jemal Tassew was given his marching orders after a reckless tackle on Lungu. The sending off of Tassew angered Ethiopian supporters who threw water bottles and vuvuzelas (plastic horns) on the pitch.

Chipolopolo made use of their one man advantage when marksman Collins Mbesuma latched on to Isaac Chansa’s pass to shoot past substitute keeper Zerihun Tadele. The goal only served to heighten tensions with Ethiopian fans throwing more vuvuzelas on the field.

The second half began on an intense note with Zambia trying to put the game to bed. Against the run of play, the antelopes equalised through Adane Girma in the 65th minute. The skipper slotted a close-range shot past the Zambian custodian after great spadework from substitute Addis Hintsa.

The defending champions mounted wave after wave of attacks to restore their lead but their efforts were in vain.

First published in January 2013.