HAWASSA (Interstat) — Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA scored in the closing minutes to earn a 1-1 draw at Hawassa in a Premier League match Thursday. The visitors trailed for most of the second half before finding the equalizer, and neither side could produce a winner in the remaining minutes. Hawassa had the better of the early exchanges and protected its lead until the late stages, while Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA responded with a stronger push after the break. The match was the third league outing of the season for both sides, and it produced the second draw of Hawassa’s campaign. Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA entered with two wins in the competition, while Hawassa had opened with a draw and a loss. The draw was the second tie in the competition for Hawassa.

Hawassa took the lead in the fifth minute when Getaneh Kebede scored. Kebede played the full match and finished with one goal, giving the home side an early advantage. Hawassa continued to defend its lead through the first half and into the second, limiting Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA’s chances for much of the match. The home side’s effort was built around Kebede’s early finish and a compact approach that kept the visitors from finding a quick response. Kebede’s fifth-minute goal was the only score of the first half, and Hawassa carried that advantage into the interval. The early goal forced Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA to chase the match for more than an hour. Hawassa’s lead held through halftime and into the late stages of the second half.

Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA found the equalizer in the 84th minute when Lowe L. scored. The goal ended Hawassa’s resistance and capped a late push by the visitors, who had been seeking to remain unbeaten in the competition. After the goal, Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA looked for a winner, but Hawassa held firm to secure a share of the result. The visitors had won their two previous league matches by 1-0 scorelines and kept pressing for a third victory, but Hawassa’s defense held through the final minutes. The goal was Lowe L.’s first of the match and gave the visitors the equalizer they had pursued. Hawassa pushed for a response after falling level, but the home side could not create a decisive chance in the final minutes.

The draw moved Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA’s season record in the competition to 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw. Hawassa’s record in the competition is now 0 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. Across all competitions, Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA is 2 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw, while Hawassa is 0 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA had previously won at Mechal SC and at Sidama Bunna SC. Hawassa had drawn with Ethiopian Insurance and lost to Mechal SC. The result kept Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA unbeaten in the competition and across all competitions, while Hawassa remained without a win. The visitors’ two earlier victories came by 1-0 margins, and the draw added another unbeaten result to their start. Hawassa’s two draws and one loss leave it searching for its first win of the campaign. The result left both sides with three league matches played. Hawassa next visits Sidama Bunna SC.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Hawassa 1, Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA with a 59.8 percent probability to win. Ethiopia Nigd Bank SA had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 0.5. The total score of 2 went under the over/under line of 1.5.