Celebration as Emiliano Tade of AmaZulu FC nets another goal during the Absa Premiership 2018/19 game between AmaZulu and Bloemfontein Celtic at King Zwelithini Stadium, KwaZulu-Natal on 12 December 2018 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
by
Staff Reporter
Wednesday Dec 12, 2018. 21:58
AmaZulu FC brushed aside Bloemfontein Celtic 3-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday.
As a result, Usuthu climbed up to 11th spot on the league table, while Phunya Sele Sele moved down to sixth place on the log.
Usuthu got off to a bright start with Butholezwe Ncube pulling the strings in the middle of the park for the home side.
Celtic's Cameroonian goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb was called into action in the sixth minute and he gathered AmaZulu full-back Marc Van Heerden's long-range shot.
Bonginkosi Ntuli then burst into the Phunya Sele Sele box 12 minutes later, but Celtic defender Lorenzo Gordinho made a great tackle to stop the AmaZulu striker.
Celtic grew in confidence as the match progressed and AmaZulu keeper Siyabonga Mbatha had to produce a brilliant save to deny Menzi Masuku just before the half-hour mark.
However, AmaZulu still looked dangerous when they pushed forward and on the half-hour mark, Emiliano Tade's powerful low shot hit the upright with Tignyemb well-beaten beaten.
Usuthu hit the post again through Tade eight minutes before the half-time break as pressure mounted on the Phunya Sele Sele defence which was led by Gordinho.
Celtic were able to contain AmaZulu and the score was 0-0 at the interval following a lively first-half.
Usuthu continued to launch attacks as they looked to take the lead with Tade and his strike-partner Ntuli working hard for the home side.
The deadlock was finally broken three minutes before the hour-mark and it was Tade, who deservedly scored to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu after beating his marker inside the Celtic box.
The momentum was with AmaZulu and they managed to double their lead in the 69th minute after they were awarded a penalty when Lantshene Phalane was adjudged to have handled the ball in the Celtic box.
Tade then stepped up and beat Tignyemb from the spot-kick to make it 2-0 AmaZulu with the former Auckland City striker scoring his fifth league goal of the season.
Celtic coach Steve Komphela introduced young attacker Neo Maema with 13 minutes left on the clock as the visitors looked to grab at least two late goals.
However, the visitors suffered a blow in stoppage time as Gordinho was given a straight red card after denying Ntuli a goalscoring opportunity.
Second-half substitute Siyabonga Nomvethe then stepped up and scored from the set-piece to seal AmaZulu's 3-0 victory over Celtic on the night.
AmaZulu (0) 3 (Tade 57', 69', Nomvethe 90'+3)
Celtic (0) 0
AmaZulu: Mbatha, M.Gumede, Mabiliso (P.Gumede 77'), Van Heerden, Nyongo, Ncube, Vilakazi, Morton, Karuru (Sithebe 62'), Tade (Nomvethe 86'), Ntuli.
Celtic:Tignyemb, Letlabika, Sam, Rikhotso (Maema 74'), Mabena, Mashikinya, Masuku, Gordinho, Dlamini, Phalane, Mabasa.
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