Bloemfontein, February 14 (ANA) – Chippa United left it late in securing a 1-0 Absa Premiership win over Bloemfontein Celtic away at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The visiting team secured all three points via Rhulani Manzini’s 90th minute strike, the result seeing the Chilli Boys keeping their sixth position on the standings, while Celtic are 11th.
The Free Staters looked positive in the opening stages of the game, but suffered a setback in the 11th minute when on-form striker Abdoul Fiston was taken off after suffering a head injury.
For the most part though the early stages of the contest were confined to a midfield battle, with not too many clear cut chances on goal for either side.
The first decent chance of the game fell to Chippa, but Joseph Molangoane was unable to find the target with his headed effort on 34 minutes, before Celtic defender Bevan Fransman did well to clear Zaphaniah Mbokama’s dangerous ball into the box just before half-time.
Phunya Sele Sele showed more purpose after the break, visiting keeper Daniel Akpeyi only just doing enough to keep out Thapelo Morena’s shot 10 minutes into the second half.
Morena soon had another chance, but was again denied by Akpeyi, Likontswane then sending his free kick wide of the target midway through the second half as Celtic continued to enjoy the upper hand.
The game seemed destined for a 0-0 draw, but substitute Manzini had other ideas as he swooped in the final minute of regulation time after some excellent combination play from the Eastern Cape side to leave the home club empty handed – African News Agency (ANA).
