Ethiopia 0-1 Cape Verde: Blue Sharks take all three factors in Africa Cup of Nations opener due to Julio Tavares' strike in first-half stoppage time, after Yared Bayeh noticed pink early on
- Julio Tavares first-half aim seals three factors for Cape Verde in AFCON opener
- Ethiopia have been decreased to 10 males after Yared Bayeh's dismissal in twelfth minute
- Victory sees Blue Sharks go joint prime of Group A earlier than subsequent match on Thursday
- Elsewhere, hosts Cameroon got here from behind to win 2-1 towards Burkina Faso
Striker Julio Tavares headed house the winner as Cape Verde Islands shrugged off their COVID-19 woes to beat 10-man Ethiopia 1-0 on the opening day of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday.
Tavares pressured house diving header after an outstanding cutback go from Garry Rodrigues on the stroke of halftime on the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde because the Cape Verdians joined hosts Cameroon on prime of the Group A standings.
Cameroon had come from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1 in Sunday's opening match on the newly-built venue.
Cape Verde have been pressured to begin the match with out coach Bubista, in quarantine after testing constructive for the novel coronavirus, and had simply six substitutes on the bench, with an extra 9 gamers isolating, and two injured.
However Ethiopia made their activity simpler when defender Yared Bayeh was despatched off after 10 minutes.
He tripped Tavares from behind with the Cape Verde striker bearing down on aim and the Angola referee Helder Martins, having initially cautioned Bayeh, modified his thoughts after reviewing his choice on the pitchside VAR display screen.
Ethiopia gamely fought on regardless of the drawback of being a person down, and seemed to be taking a psychological enhance into the break by managing to carry Cape Verde at bay, earlier than Tavares' courageous end from shut vary.
Simply minutes earlier, Ethiopia had an opportunity to be first on the rating sheet when Abubeker Nasir intercepted a poor again go from Irish-born Roberto Lopes however goalkeeper Marcio Rosa, successful solely his third cap, was shortly off his line to smother the chance.
Ethiopia, who have been the primary staff to reach in Cameroon for the match a fortnight in the past, are one of many few nations on the finals not hampered by COVID-19 infections.
Cape Verde subsequent meet Burkina Faso on Thursday, whereas Cameroon will face Ethiopia.