Mekelle 70 Enderta 3–0 Negele Arsi: Dominant Tigray Side Cruise to Comfortable Victory

Mekelle 70 Enderta delivered a commanding performance in the Ethiopian Premier League on 1 July 2026, sweeping aside Negele Arsi with a convincing 3–0 scoreline at home. The result keeps the Tigray-based club firmly in contention for the upper half of the table, while Negele Arsi were left to rue a disjointed display that saw them fall behind early and never recover.

Match Overview

From the opening whistle, Mekelle 70 Enderta seized control of the midfield, pressing high and forcing errors from the Negele Arsi backline. The home side’s intensity paid off inside the first 15 minutes when a swift counter‑attack ended with a clinical finish to open the scoring. The goal settled any early nerves and set the tone for a dominant first half.

Negele Arsi struggled to create clear chances, their forwards isolated against a well‑organised Mekelle defence. The visitors’ best opportunity came from a set piece just before the interval, but the header sailed narrowly over the crossbar. Mekelle doubled their lead shortly after the restart with a well‑worked move down the right flank, and a third goal late in the second half sealed the result.

Key Moments

• 12' – Opening Goal: Mekelle’s central midfielder latched onto a loose ball outside the box and unleashed a low drive that nestled into the bottom corner.
• 52' – Second Goal: A sweeping team move involving a precise through‑ball and a composed finish from the striker made it 2–0.
• 78' – Third Goal: A corner kick was headed powerfully home by the centre‑back, giving the goalkeeper no chance.

Tactical Story

Mekelle 70 Enderta set up in a 4‑3‑3 that allowed them to overload the middle third and quickly transition into wide areas. Their full‑backs pushed high, pinning Negele Arsi’s wingers deep, while the midfield trio of Temesgen, Berhanu, and Alemu dictated the tempo. Negele Arsi, playing a more conservative 4‑4‑2, were unable to cope with the home side’s pressing and lacked creativity in the final third.

Standout Players

• Berhanu Tadesse (Mekelle): The midfield engine covered every blade of grass, contributing one assist and breaking up numerous opposition attacks.
• Abel Yilma (Mekelle): The striker’s movement and hold‑up play were instrumental; he scored the second goal and won several free kicks in dangerous areas.
• Fikadu Tesfaye (Negele Arsi): Despite the defeat, the goalkeeper made several sharp saves to keep the scoreline respectable.

Season Impact

The three points move Mekelle 70 Enderta up to sixth place in the Ethiopian Premier League standings, just four points behind the top three. Their recent home form has been impressive, with three wins from their last four matches at the Mekelle Stadium. For Negele Arsi, the loss leaves them hovering above the relegation zone, and they will need to tighten their defence – they have now conceded ten goals in their last five away matches.

With several key fixtures looming, Mekelle will look to build on this momentum, while Negele Arsi face a crucial run of matches against direct rivals in the battle for survival.