Celtic edge Chiefs in Polokwane

by BackPageTXT

Saturday Apr 27, 2019. 21:48

Bloemfontein Celtic edged Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday evening.


The result sees the Amakhosi and Phunya Sele Sele remain in their respective league positions of seventh and ninth respectively.

Celtic created a couple of early half-chances for the likes of Kabelo Dlamini and Neo Naema, while Chiefs had an appeal for a penalty when Bernard Parker’s shot on goal hit the hand of Wandisile Letlabika, but the referee waved their appeals away.

The hosts claimed the lead through a superb goal from Ndumiso Mabena midway through the first half. The striker netted for the second game in succession by sending a shot direct from a free kick into the net via the inside of goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma’s right-hand post.

Chiefs were unable to muster anything in response through the remainder of the first half, leaving the game 1-0 in favour of Phunya Sele Sele at the interval.

At the start of the second stanza, Amakhosi coach Ernst Middendorp made a double change in an effort to revive his team, bringing on Siphosakhe Ntiyantiya and Andriamirado Andrianarimanana in place of defenders Philani Zulu and Lorenzo Gordinho.

However, the Soweto giants lacked any discernible structure or intent in their play, with Celtic able to keep the visitors at arm’s length with relative ease. The only notable chance arrived from a clever corner kick by substitute Siphelele Ntshangase in the 82nd minute, with Bernard Parker found in space but unable to direct a shot on target.

In fact, with Chiefs throwing men forward and leaving themselves short at the back, they were lucky that Celtic did not take full advantage of several opportunities to add a second goal on the counter in the dying minutes.

The teams will return to league action next Saturday, 4 May: Chiefs will be at home to Free State Stars, while Celtic will travel to play Highlands Park.

Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 (Mabena 23’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Celtic: Tignyemb, Letlabika, Mahashe, Rikhotso, Sam, Masuku, Phalane, Baloyi (De Jongh 85’), Dlamini (Potsane 77’), Maema, Mabena (Mabaso 90’)

Chiefs: Bvuma, Mphahlele, Cardoso, Gordinho (Ntiyantita 46’), Hadebe, Zulu (Andrianarimanana 46’), Katsande (Ntshangase 75’), Maluleka, Zuma, Mahlasela, Parker