Wolaita Dicha edged Defense 4-3 penalty to bag the 2017 Ethiopia Cup for the first time at Addis Stadium Thursday.
Defense scored first through Mubarke Shkur’s own goal in the 21st minute but, Alazar Fasika restored parity in the 53rd minute.
With no winner at full time, the match proceeded to penalty shootout with the visitors emerging winners and securing themselves 2018 CAF Confederations Cup slot.
Sodo-based Dicha become the first team outside Addis Ababa to clinch the 72-year-old tournament after Harar Brewery’s triumph in 2007.
Twenty years back, another Sodo based outfit Wolaita Tusa achieved the feet.
In this year’s campaign, five second division clubs were included for the first time in the tournament’s long history, however, only Shire Endeselassie, who were eliminated in the first round honored the invite.
Defending champions St. George kissed their title goodbye in the quarters after being knocked-out by today’s runners up Defense.
To sail to the final, Defense overcame Woldia Kenema while Dicha brushed aside relegated Jimma Aba Bunna.
This was Defense’s third consecutive Ethiopia Cup final, winning one against Hawassa City two years ago and losing to St. George in last year’s edition.
