ADDIS ABABA: Good beginnings make good endings. This became true when Harar Brewery beat Rwanda’s Rayon Sport 2-0 during the CAF Confederation Cup first leg on Sunday, 18 February 2008, in Addis Ababa.

Harar Brewery started the game scattering the Rayon players in circles. At one time, Webo, Rayon’s goal keeper, had to make a move to save from Harar’s strikers long-range shot flying just over the crossbar. Harar’s moves during the firs half were engineered by the sensational Samuel Terefe. However, Rayon also exerted pressure on Harar Brewery in the mid first half, forcing the goal keeper to make a daring save from Rayon’s striker.

 Only five minutes to go when Samuel Terefe scored the opening goal for Harar Brewery during a goal mouth melee. Harar’s goal removed the steam from Rayon Sport. But, both teams’ strikers missed good scoring opportunities during the first half. When the second half started, Harar Brewery continued pilling pressure on Rayon, forcing it to concede a penalty kick. Rayon’s keeper was booked for a dangerous tackle on Harar’s captain in the 10th minute. Ahmed Seid took the penalty kick and scored the second goal for Harar Brewery. The man of the match was Harar’s Samuel Terefe who had the crowd roaring every time he had the ball in his possession. Surprisingly the Harar Brewery bench did not substitute the worn out Captain who was a passenger throughout the game. The Captain missed two excellent scoring opportunities during the second half.Harar Brewery is in positive mood ahead of its second leg clash on March 1-2 at Kigali. The good result in Addis Ababa will increase its chances of getting to the second round. 

Harar qualified for this tournament for the first time in history after winning last year’s Ethiopian league knockout championship.