ADDIS ABABA (Interstat) — Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA defeated Mechal SC 1-0 on Sunday, using a second-half goal to secure the result and remain unbeaten this season.

The opening half produced little separation and sent the teams into the break scoreless. Mechal SC, playing at home, held its shape and limited Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA’s clearest chances before the interval. The visitors probed for an opening but met a compact home defense that kept the match level through the first 45 minutes. The match changed shortly after halftime when Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA found the breakthrough.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA scored in the 47th minute. The goal was the only one of the match and gave the visitors a lead they protected through the closing stages. Mechal SC sought a response but could not convert over the remainder of the second half. The home side tried to push numbers forward in search of an equalizer, while Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA dropped deeper to guard the advantage.

The win lifted Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA to 2 wins and 0 losses in the competition and to the same record across all competitions. Mechal SC moved to 1 win and 1 loss in the competition and 1 win and 1 loss overall. The result gave the visitors a second victory in as many matches and left the hosts with a split record after two outings.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA had opened the season with a 1-0 road win at Sidama Bunna SC. Mechal SC had started with a 1-0 win at Hawassa. Both teams entered the match after those victories, but the visitors added another one-goal result to their early-season ledger. Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA’s second straight 1-0 win kept its defensive record intact in the competition.

Mechal SC had the advantage of home surroundings but could not turn it into a goal. The hosts remained within reach until the final whistle, though Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA managed the final phase without conceding. The visitors’ defensive effort preserved the narrow margin and closed out the result. Mechal SC’s best spell came after the goal, but the home side could not find a finishing touch.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA’s second goal of the campaign was enough to decide the contest. Mechal SC, which had won its opener, could not find an equalizer after the 47th-minute strike. The home side’s attempts to level the match did not produce a goal, and Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA held on for the win. The visitors managed the closing minutes with discipline and kept the home side from creating a clear late chance.

The result kept Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA perfect in the competition and across all competitions. Mechal SC, meanwhile, settled at an even record after its first two matches. The visitors’ ability to protect the one-goal lead proved decisive in the final account. The visitors’ second win of the season came in a match that remained tight from start to finish, with the single goal deciding the outcome. Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA will carry its unbeaten start into the next round of fixtures, while Mechal SC will look to regroup after a narrow home defeat.

Before kickoff, Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Mechal SC 1, Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA with a 52 percent probability to win. Mechal SC had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 1 went over the over/under line of 1.5.