JOHANNESBURG, February 19 (ANA) – Bloemfontein Celtic secured a valuable three points and eased their relegation woes, in beating Chippa United 2-0 in a bruising Absa Premiership match at the Dr Petrus Malemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday afternoon.
With the match seemingly headed for a stalemate which would have been of no major value to under pressure Celtic as well as eighth-placed Chippa, Celtic midfielder Musa Nyatama swung things the way of the hosts. Firstly, he right-footed home a cross from Kabelo Mohlasela in the 77th minute, and later in the sixth minute of stoppage time, scored from the penalty spot, after Thabang Thopola had fouled Mohlasela.
The Eastern Cape side showed great character, in having to play 65 minutes of the match with ten men, after their star striker Rhulani Manzini was sent for an early shower after putting in an over-robust challenge on Celtic defender Alfred Ndengane. Despite a lack of goals, the first 45 minutes provided action aplenty, with Celtic midfielder Mpho Maruping first booked for unsporting behaviour after a foul on Buyani Sali, and then substituted in the 32nd minute.
Celtic had the best chance of getting on the score sheet, when midfielder Dumisani Zuma’s shot on goal was parried away from danger by Chippa goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi in the 21st minute. The visitors will regret their failure to score on the stroke of half-time, when Sibusiso Mxoyana’s shot at goal hit the Celtic upright and went wide.
The match officials earned their way, as apart from the red card handed to Manzini and the yellow card of Maruping, fellow Celtic players in Vusi Shikweni (the replacement for Maruping), and Deon Hotto, plus Chippa men in Diamond Thopola, Mthokozisi Dube and Sandile Zuke, were cautioned.
The three points earned gives Celtic some much needed breathing space away from the relegation battle, as they moved to 18 points from 17 league outings, and will now focus on preparing to host Platinum Stars on Saturday. Chippa, who went into the match of a mid-week 1-1 draw against African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, remain on 20 points from 17 matches, and will host Golden Arrows on February 24. – African News Agency (ANA)
