Bidvest Wits lose in Bloemfontein

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Sunday Oct 01, 2017. 17:16

Bidvest Wits suffered their third Absa Premiership defeat when they lost 1-0 to Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr. Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The league's defending champions continued with their poor start and are now sitting at number 15 on the table with five points from seven games.

For the Free State side, Roggert Nyundu scored in the second stanza to ensure they claim their first win at home.

Both camps exchanged ball retention in the heart of the field early on and both goalkeepers were not tested in the opening 10 minutes.

In the 15th minute it was Frank Mhango who had the first shot on goal, but his well-struck effort sailed over the Celtic cross bar.

Good football by the defending champions saw Reeve Frosler delivering a great cross for Amr Gamal in the 26th minute, but the latter's header went inches wide.

Despite their dominance, the Clever Boys could not trouble their hosts and squandered possession time and again with poor decision making in the final third.

There were no goals in the opening stanza.

Veselin Jelusic's men, though, would break the deadlock in the 76th minute when Nyundu scored at close range to finish off Hotto's cross from the left wing, 1-0.

Wits looked to make a quick response in the 84th minute when Daylon Claasen set up fellow substitute Kobamelo Kodisang in the box, but the latter's effort was punched away by Tignyemb for a corner.

Celtic were under siege in the final minutes of the tie, but they defended well to hold on for the 1-0 win.

In the wake of the victory, Phunya Sele Sele now occupy the seventh spot on the log table with nine points from seven matches.

Bloemfontein Celtic: (0) 1 (Nyundu 76')
Bidvest Wits: (0)

Celtic: Tignyemb, Pfumbidzai, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Mabena, Mashikinya, Letlabika (Lubisi 54'), Baloyi, Hotto, Motshegwa, Nyundu (Letsoalo 89')

Bidvest Wits: Josephs, Khumalo, Damjanovic, Scott, Monare (Keene 81'), Gamal, Hlanti, Mhango (Claasen 71'), Phiri (Kodisang 71'), Frosler, Ntshangase