Monde Mpambaniso scored an 89th minute winner for Polokwane City in a 2-1 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership clash at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The wing-wizard emerged off the bench to great effect in what was his debut for the Limpopo club. Victory moves Rise and Shine up to fifth place on the log standings, level on points with both Siwelele and Mamelodi Sundowns.

Salulani Phiri opened the scoring for the visitors in the 13th minute of the clash after being teed up by Mohamed Anas.

Siwelele never gave up and got their just reward in the 79th minute. Kabelo Dlamini with the equaliser for the hosts.

City, though, would restore their lead 10 minutes later through Mpambaniso who sealed all three points for the away side.

Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 1 (Dlamini 79')

Polokwane City (1) 2 (Phiri 13' Mpambaniso 89')

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb; Sam, Letlabika, Gordinho, Rikhotso (Letsoalo 51'), De Jongh (Shikweni 51'), Mashikinya, Maema, Dlamini, Mabena, Mabaso (Mangweni 84').

Polokwane City: Ndlovu; Nkili, Hlongwane (Ravhuhali 33'), Mbonani, Manaka, Phiri, Seabi, Mvelase, Tlolane (Sikhosana 59'), Mngomezulu (Mpambaniso 78'), Anas.

Bloemfontein Celtic will look to claim all three Absa Premiership points when they host Polokwane City at Dr Molemela Stadium on 2 December 2018, kick-off at 15h30.

Celtic played to their third draw of the season when they were held 0-0 at home by SuperSport United on November 28. The Bloemfontein side has claimed seven points from the last nine available.

Phunya Sele Sele have claimed 11 points from six home matches this season. They have won just one of their last four games as hosts, scoring just one goal in the process.

Polokwane have gone three league matches without a win after they were beaten 2-1 at home by Cape Town City on November 27. The Limpopo side’s last victory came at home to Maritzburg United in late October.

Rise and Shine have picked up eight points from five away matches this season, with their last result on the road a 0-0 draw at AmaZulu in mid-November.

In head-to-head stats, Polokwane and Celtic have met in 10 league matches since 2013/14. The Bloemfontein team has claimed five wins compared to three for their Limpopo counterparts, while two matches have ended in draws. Phunya Sele Sele have claimed two wins from five home matches in the rivalry, suffering one defeat in the process.

Last season each team claimed an away win over the other: Celtic won 2-1 in Polokwane in September 2017, while the return game in Bloemfontein in March 2018 saw Rise and Shine triumph 2-0.

Celtic’s line-up from their 0-0 draw with SuperSport on November 28: Tignyemb, Letlabika, Gordinho, Rikhotso, Sam (Pfumbidzai 65’), Masuku (Mangweni 76’), Phalane, Mashikinya, Dlamini (Potsane 71’), Mabena, Mabaso.

Polokwane’s line-up from their 2-1 loss to CT City on November 27: Ndlovu, Mvelase (Wagaba 73'), Mbonani, Nkili, Hlongwane, Seabi, J.Maluleke, Mngomezulu, Phiri (Tlolane 69'), Musona (Anas 55'), Ramagalela.