Tshegofatso Mabasa © Backpagepix

Maritzburg United and Bloemfontein Celtic drew 1-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The draw sees the Team of Choice finish the season on the seventh spot on the league standings, while Phunya Sele Sele remain 12th.

The Team of Choice threatened first when Deolin Mekoa’s dangerous cross was cleared away by Deon Hotto just a minute into the match.

Evans Rusike, the Maritzburg striker, unleashed a shot from range in the 18th minute, but his effort did not find the back of the net.

The Zimbabwe international was then caught offside six minutes later as the Team of Choice continued to press Phunya Sele Sele.

However, Celtic pushed forward in numbers in the 35th minute and Tshegofatso Mabasa scored with a left-footed effort to make it 1-0 to his side.

Martizburg midfielder Mekoa tried to restore parity for his side in the 41st minute, but Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb denied him.

The score was 1-0 to Celtic during the half-time thanks to Mabasa’s goal. Maritzburg were left to rue their chances from the first-half.

It took only three minutes for Lebohang Maboe to level matters for the Team of Choice in the second-half following a good move by the hosts.

The midfielder beat Celtic’s Cameroonian shot-stopper to make it 1-1 with a right-footed finish with Siphesihle Ndlovu providing an assist.

With side having levelled matters, Rusike found some space outside the Celtic box in the 65th minute, but his long range effort missed the target.

Celtic technical team made a change five minutes later – introducing Mpho Maruping for Lyle Lakay as they looked to press Maritzburg.

With less than 10 minutes left, Musa Nyatama tried to grab the winning goal for Celtic, but the midfielder’s effort missed the target.

Nevertheless, Maritzburg and Arrows drew 1-1 as the two sides were unable to score in the closing stages of the encounter.

Maritzburg (0) 1 (Maboe 48′)
Celtic (1) 1 (Mabasa 35′)

Maritzburg: Vries, Fransman, Sanoka, Weidlich, Makaringe, Shandu (Mokae 45′), Mekoa, Lentjies, Ndlovu, Maboe, Rusike.

Celtic XI: Tignyemb, Rikhotso, Ndengane, Dube, Letlabika, Zuma, Hotto, Mabasa (Nyondo 86′), Nyatama, Lakay (Maruping 70′), Abdoul.

Sourced from the PSL website.