Maritzburg down Celtic for first win

by Graeme Jackson

Sunday Sep 23, 2018. 17:11

Maritzburg United claimed their first win of the 2018/19 Absa Premiership season by downing Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The victory took the Team of Choice from the bottom of the log to the relative safety of 13th, while Phunya Sele Sele dropped one place to fourth – and missed out on the chance to end the weekend at the top of the standings.

The match kicked off seven minutes late after Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb was twice asked by the match officials to change his socks.

The delay seemed to put the Cameroonian off his game and in the second minute he made a poor decision in sprinting off his line to try and intercept a long ball, allowing Bandile Shandu an easy finish to put Maritzburg ahead.

The KwaZulu-Natal side almost doubled their lead in the sixth minute, with a corner kick handing Brian Onyango a great chance from close range, but Lorenzo Gordinho put his body on the line to make a heroic block virtually on the goal line.

Celtic gradually worked their way into the game and nearly levelled the scores on the half-hour mark, as a slick passing move ended with Tshegofatso Mabaso firing off a volley which brushed the top of the crossbar.

Maritzburg led the game 1-0 at the break, but Celtic’s threat in attack continued to grow in the second half, and Ndumiso Mabena opened space for a snap shot in the 55th minute, only to send his effort over the target.

The visitors were content to sit back and try hit Phunya Sele Sele on the break. Their tactics almost paid dividends in the 75th minute when a counter attack ended with Andrea Fileccia sending a shot just wide of Tignyemb’s left-hand post.

Maritzburg were able to see out the remainder of the game in relative comfort and claim their first three-pointer of the 2018/19 campaign.

The teams will return to league action early next month, with Maritzburg away to AmaZulu on October 2, while Celtic will host Mamelodi Sundowns the following day.

Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Maritzburg United (1) 1 (Shandu 2’)


Celtic: Tignyemb, Rikhotso, Gordinho, Ndengane, Sam, Masuku (Potsane 51’), Phalane, Mashikinya, Dlamini (Letsoalo 68’), Mabena, Mabaso (Pfumbidzai 77’)

Maritzburg: Ofori, De Reuck, Xulu, Onyango, Sanoka, Makgalwa (Mokate 63’), Makaringe, Shandu, Kunene, Zakri (Mekoa 46’), Fileccia (Figueredo 89’)