Sidama Coffee’s troubles in 2020/21 season continued after the BetKing Ethiopian Premier League giants were handed a 1-0 beating by Dire Dawa Kenema under the floodlights at Dire Dawa Stadium on Thursday.
Muhdin Mussa’s 45th minute penalty handed the Tigers their second straight loss of the season affair that simmered but rarely hit the expected heights.
Dire Dawa pushed for an opener early on and were nearly rewarded when Junias Nandjebo’s effort from distance sailed just over the crossbar.
Sidama were restricted to long range efforts for most of the opening exchanges, with Habtamu Gezahegn and Mamadou Sidibe going close after the 20-minute mark.
Dawit Tefera then missed a great opportunity in the 32nd minute when he failed to connect to a low cross from Yonas Gerenew after the latter had done well on the right to beat his marker.
Sidama were caught off guard minutes later with a superb counter, but Richmond Adongo’s shot after twisting and turning inside the box went high above the bar. Daniel Demssie had sent in a great cross from the left, Adongo beating the offside trap but his final finishing let him down.
Then against the run of play, Dire Dawa went ahead after Sunday Mutuku handled the ball in the box with referee Teferi Alebachew pointing to the spot. Up stepped Mussa to calmly dispatch the spotkick past Fikru Wodessa.
The second 45 saw the Easterners continue to dictate matters, but their finishing was not as good as in the first half.
Ten minute after the restart, Dire Dawa goalkeeper, Firew Getahun, came to his side’s rescue as he palmed away Yassar Mugerwa’s close range effort.
In the 69th minute Mehari Mena wasted another glorious chance when substitute Biniam Belay slipped him through on goal, but he dragged his shot wide with just the keeper to beat.
Six minutes later some swift build-up play from Sidama saw Mugerwa into space 16-yards out, but again he was denied by a good save from the keeper.
The Easterners continued to search for the second goal and were nearly rewarded in the 77th minute but Fikru was on hand to keep out Frezer Kassa’s effort.
Dire Dawa managed to see out the game with relative ease, while Sidama only managed to register five effort on target throughout the entire 90 minutes.
