Orlando Pirates humble Bloemfontein Celtic

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Sunday Nov 26, 2017. 17:52

Orlando Pirates beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

As a result, Pirates climbed up to second place on the league table, while Celtic slip down to eighth spot on the standings.

Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb and his Pirates counterpart Jackson Mabokgwane were not seriously tested in the first 10 minutes of the game.

Tignyemb was called into action in the 16th minute and he denied Pirates midfielder Luvuyo Memela as the visitors began to press Celtic.

Pirates defender-cum-midfielder Gladwin Shitolo thought he had given his side the lead a few minutes before the half-hour mark, but he was ruled offside.

The momentum was with Celtic after the half-hour mark with Kabelo Mahlasela looking lively for the hosts.

But the Celtic attacking midfielder was contained by the Pirates defence and the two sides were locked at 0-0 at half-time.

The Buccaneers had slightly dominated the first-half, but they could not beat Cameroonian shot-stopper Tignyemb.

Pirates were forced to concede two corner-kicks by Celtic in the first five minutes of the second-half and the visitors dealt well with the set-pieces.

The home side's defence was then caught napping and former Celtic midfielder Musa Nyatama beat Tignyemb to make it 1-0 to Pirates in the 62nd minute.

There was a defensive mix-up in the Pirates box seven minutes later, but Celtic could not punish the visitors following a cross by Deon Hotto.

The momentum was Celtic in the closing stages of the game with Pirates forced to sit back and defend.

Pirates defended very well in the dying minutes and ultimately, they ran out 1-0 winners over Celtic.

Celtic 0
Pirates (0) 1 (Nyatama 62')

Celtic: Tignyemb, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Lubisi, Baloyi, Mashikinya (Mabaso 85'), Phalane, Letsoalo (Nyundu 60'), Mahlasela (Motshegwa 77'), Hotto, Mabena.

Pirates: Mabokgwane, Chabalala, Shitolo, Nyauza, Matlaba, Sangweni, Nyatama, Qalinge (Rakhale 57'), Memela, Makola (Sarr 71'), Gabuza (Nkosi 91'+1).