The matches of the Betking Ethiopian premier league 19th week fixtures held between last Thursday and Sunday produced much drama, especially around the title challenge of Ethiopian Insurance and we look at the other key talking points.
ETHIOPIAN INSURANCE DROP TWO POINTS
Ethiopia Insurance returned to the Ethiopia Premier League after eight years in the wilderness. The team that led by Gebremedhin Haile started the season on the receiving end of a 1-7 bashing to St George but have since become a title challenger unexpectedly.
This week, as fellow title challengers, St George and Bahir Dar City won their matches, a win was must for this team, but they were held to a 2-2 draw by Wolaitta Dicha.
They had held their nerves to win both their week 17 and week 18 fixtures but they have conceded goals on five of last six matches. This may raise a question mark on their title charge.
The draw against Wolaitta Dicha cost them 2 points, leaving them points adrift from leaders Saint George and two points behind 2nd placed Bahir Dar City, and they are still 3rd with 37 points.
RELEGATION LOOMS ETHIO ELECTRIC AND LEGETAFO LEGEDADI
Ethio Electric and Legetafo Legedadi both advanced to the premier league this season alongside Ethiopia Insurance but their way is opposite to Ethiopian insurance.
They have both tried to improve their fortunes in the second round with a rash of acquisitions in the mid-season transfer window to little effect.
Legetafo Legedadi beat Dire Dawa City unexpectedly but, they then lost scandalously by 1-7 to Ethiopian Insurance. So, it was predicted that they may try to get back to by winning ways against Ethio Electric, but alas, it came to nought, as they finished goalless.
It is the same for Ethio Electric who have only collected one point in the second round. If they had won against Legetafo Legedadi, they would have progressed their points haul to two digits for the first time in the season.
DIRE DAWA WELCOMED NEW COACH, ASRATE ABATE WITH A LOSS
Dire Dawa City started the league brilliantly led by their former player Yordanose Abay, but they couldn't keep their good form throughout the next fixtures. Their surprise loss to bottom siders, Legetafo Legedadi forced the board to release Yordanose Abay and they have now appointed the immediate past assistant national coach, Asrate Abate.
However, he lost his first game in charge 1-3 to title challengers Bahir Dar City.
This coming on the back of Dire Dawa's impressive 2-1 win over Hadiya Hosaena a week after the departure of Yordanose Abay.
Asrate Abate couldn't be on touchline because of unfinished paper works.
MEKELAKEYA SEEMS TO BE RUNNING BACKWARDS
Mekelakeya signed so many high-profile players in the summer, but despite the quality, they have now lost their 3rd consecutive fixture at Adama following their week 16 win over when the League rounded up the fixtures at Dire Dawa.
They have conceded 13 goals in last 7 matches, with their frontline easily firing blanks.
It is left to be seen how they will fare against the rampant Ethiopian Insurance in their next match.