Ethiopia Football: Defence Force defeats CBE 1-0
Addis Ababa – Defence Force rebounded from its recent slump to defeat CBE 1-0 here today and close the gap at the top of the Ethiopian Premier League (EPL), wrote Ermias Amare.
Chala Driba scored his 11th goal of the season, which sent his team to 3rd place.
Meanwhile, Hawassa City, one of the favorites to win the championship early in the season, seems to have hit a brick wall as it fell 1-0 to lowly Sebeta City at home in Yirgalem. Dawit Mebratu scored the lone goal of the game.
In the Addis Ababa double header, Lideta Nyala failed to take home field advantage as it lost 3-2 to Trans Ethiopia.  Ahmed Said, the brother of St. George striker Salhadin, scored a hat-trick. Girum Bashaye and Tafesse Solomon scored for Nyala.
EEPCO, which has been languishing at the bottom of the table for a long time and was once doomed to be relegated, seems to have found its form at the right time as it scored another victory (1-0) today in Fincha.
Dedebit vs Sidama Coffee
Dedebit FC can overtake St. George at the top of the EPL if it defeats or draw with Sidama Coffee in Yirgalem tomorrow.
Dedebit is expected to go for a victory as it will put them 2 points clear of St. George, while a draw will put the two teams on equal footing (46pts). Dedebit has a better goal difference (+27) than St. George (+18).
However, Sidama Coffee (43pts) is not a push over team. Currently seated in 5th place, the surprising southern side could close the gap at the top with a victory of its own.
Week 25 Results:
Monday: May 23, 2011
Defence Force vs CBE 1-0
Lideta Nyala vs Trans Ethiopia 2-3
Hawassa City vs Sebeta City 0-1
Fincha Sugar vs EEPCO 0-1
Tuesday: May 24, 2011
Harar Brewery vs Adama City
Sidama Coffee vs Dedebit
Wednesday: May 25, 2011
Dire Dawa City vs Mugher Cement
| Rank | Teams | GP | Won | Draw | Lost | GF- GA | GD | Points |
| 1 | Saint George | 25 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 34 – 16 | +18 | 47 |
| 2 | Dedebit FC | 24 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 49 – 22 | +27 | 46 |
| 3 | Defence Force | 25 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 43 – 27 | +16 | 46 |
| 4 | Ethiopian Coffee | 25 | 12 | 10 | 3 | 41 – 25 | +16 | 46 |
| 5 | Sidama Coffee | 24 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 27 – 16 | +11 | 40 |
| 6 | Harar Brewery FC | 24 | 8 | 12 | 4 | 26 – 18 | + 8 | 36 |
| 7 | Hawassa City FC | 25 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 35 – 30 | + 5 | 36 |
| 8 | EEPCO FC | 25 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 31 – 29 | + 2 | 33 |
| 9 | Mugher Cement | 24 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 21 – 23 | + 2 | 33 |
| 10 | Dire Dawa City | 24 | 8 | 5 | 11 | 22 – 33 | -11 | 29 |
| 11 | Adama City FC | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 23 – 35 | -12 | 28 |
| 12 | Sebeta City | 25 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 25 – 32 | -7 | 27 |
| 13 | Ethiopian Banks SC | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 23 – 32 | -9 | 26 |
| 14 | Trans Ethiopia | 25 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 22 – 35 | -13 | 26 |
| 15 | Lideta Nyala | 25 | 5 | 6 | 14 | 23 – 41 | -18 | 21 |
| 16 | Fincha Sugar | 24 | 0 | 9 | 15 | 14 – 45 | -31 | 9 |
Top Scorers?–
15 Getaneh Kebede (Dedebit)
15 Adane Girma (St George)
14 Biniyam Assefa (Sebeta)
12 Dawit Fekadu (Dedebit)
11 Chala Diriba (Defense)
11 Philip Dawuzi (EEPCO)
11 Fitsum G/Mariam (Mugher)
10 Oumed Ukuri (Defense)
10 Mulualem Tilahun (Coffee)
