Absa Premiership weekend wrap: Celtic continue perfect start

Thabo Matlaba of Orlando Pirates and Bongani Sam of Bloemfontein Celtic during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game between Bloemfontein Celtic and Orlando Pirates at Toyota Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on 19 August 2018 © Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Aug 19, 2018. 09:29

Bloemfontein Celtic continued their perfect start to the 2018/19 Absa Premiership season on a weekend which saw Bidvest Wits’ winning run come to an end and Kaizer Chiefs’ search for a first win continue unabated.

Celtic have joined Wits at the top of the log on nine points with a 1-0 win over Orlando Pirates in Bloemfontein on Sunday, with Bongani Sam scoring a superb goal to seal victory for Steve Komphela’s side. Elsewhere, AmaZulu fought back from a calamitous own goal to beat Free State Stars 2-1, with Mhlengi Cele scoring the decisive strike late in the day.

The weekend’s matches kicked off on Friday night and saw Kaizer Chiefs’ frustrations continue, as they were unable to get the better of 10-man Maritzburg United (who had Siphesihle Ndlovu sent off early in the game) and had to settle for a 0-0 draw at a rainy Harry Gwala Stadium.

Saturday’s only afternoon match was a Limpopo derby which saw Polokwane City claim a 2-0 win over Baroka FC at the Peter Mokaba Stadium thanks to goals from Walter Musona and Jabulani Maluleke, while the early evening game was a forgettable goalless stalemate between Cape Town City and Golden Arrows.

The night games which followed brought an end to Wits’ winning run, as they were beaten 1-0 at home by SuperSport United (with Evans Rusike scoring for the second league game in succession), while Chippa United’s Thatayaone Kgamanyane struck with the last play of the game to salvage a 2-2 home draw against Black Leopards and avoid a third straight defeat.

The round will wrap up with a final match on Wednesday, August 22 when Mamelodi Sundowns host Highlands Park at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Absa Premiership results, August 17-19

Friday, August 17

Maritzburg United 0-0 Kaizer Chiefs

Saturday, August 18

Polokwane City 2-0 Baroka FC

Cape Town City 0-0 Golden Arrows

Chippa United 2-2 Black Leopards

Bidvest Wits 0-1 SuperSport United

Sunday, August 19

Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 Orlando Pirates

AmaZulu 2-1 Free State Stars