It was an enticing day for the Horsemen in the BetKing Ethiopian Premier League week 2 encounter as they trashed Dire Dawa Ketema 3-1 in Addis Ababa. All four goals were scored in the second half with Saint George's new signings bagging their debut goals in the process.
It was a drab first 45 minutes as the home side couldn't utilize the spaces that Saint George defenders afforded them in the attacking third. Both sides failed to make any meaningful attempts on goal for almost 40 minutes.
Abel Yalew came close to breaking the deadlock through a header that rattled the cross bar in the 41st minute. Before the teams headed to break the Easterners came the closest to open the scoring through Namibian striker Junias Nandjebe who saw his effort denied by Kenyan custodian Patrick Matasi.
The second half saw a much better performance in terms of goal bound attempts. Zenebe Kebede fouled Adis Gidey to hand the visitors a spot kick and Yalew never had a problem to put his side in front in 57th minute.
Saint George grew in confidence and pushed to get more goals in the process leaving space and time for the homers to level matters. Elias Mamo saw his strike hitting the post before Kebede penalized for a handball in the area. Gidey sent Dire Dawa goalie Firew the wrong way to make it two 12 minutes before full time.
It was another debut goal for the visiting side as summer arrival Knean Markneh lost his marker to slot home from close range for the third in the 83rd minute. Dire Dawa pulled one back in the dying moments of the game against the run of play when second half substitute Muhadin Musa scored from the area.
Dire Dawa Ketema are yet to get maximum points as giants Saint George responded to their first week defeat to Fasil Kenema by collecting maximum points.
