Kaizer Chiefs squandered a chance to move nine points clear atop the Absa Premiership standings as they fell to a 3-1 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Goals from Motebang Sera (two) and Victor Letsoalo spearheaded Phunya Selel Sele to a deserved win after Erick Mathoho had opened the scoring in South Africa’s capital.
Chiefs still hold a six-point lead at the summit of the standings, but having now played a game more than second placed Mamelodi Sundowns. Victory for Celtic moves them up to 10th place.
The Amakhosi finally conjured an attempt on goal and unsurprisingly it came from a corner-kick. Khama Billiat picked out Leonardo Castro at the far post and the forward was only denied the game’s opener through a brilliant Sipho Chaine save.
Siwelele knew what was coming and moments later in the 35th minute Chiefs would get their set-piece goal. Bernard Parker whipped the ball in but this time Mathoho rose highest to nod home against his former employers for his fifth league goal of the season.
Celtic levelled matters on the cusp of halftime following a sustained spell of pressure. Ndumiso Mabena picked out Sifiso Ngobeni who burst in behind the Chiefs defensive line before teeing up Sera for an easy finish.
Sera completed his brace two minutes after the interval. A deflected shot fell favourably at his feet and the Lesotho international made no mistake from point-blank range.
Celtic doubled their lead in the 75th minute through the in-from Letsoalo. The forward weaved his way past a couple Chiefs players before beating Daniel Akpeyi.
Billiat had a late chance to halve the deficit and possibly ignite a late fightback but he headed over from close range, an attempt that summed up their night. In the end it was a deserved result for the Free State club who conjured a rare win against the Soweto giants.
The teams will return to Absa Premiership action on Sunday and Monday respectively. The Amakhosi will play host to Stellenbosch FC at Orlando Stadium this weekend before Siwelele’s short trip to Lucas Moripe Stadium to take on AmaZulu.
Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 3 (Sera 45′ 47′ Letsoalo 75′)Kaizer Chiefs (1) 1 (Mathoho 35′)TEAMS:
Bloemfontein Celtic: Chaine; Letlabika, Mahashe, Chabalala, Ngobeni, Baloyi, Mahashe, Fikizolo (Luthuli 83′), Mabena (Potsane 87′), Letsoalo, Sera (Tchilimbou 63′).
Kaizer Chiefs: Akpeyi; Cardoso, Agay, Mathoho, Mphahlele (Frosler 46′), Katsande, Manyama (Sasman 46′), Billiat, Parker (Zuma 65′), Nurkovic, Castro.© Backpage TXT .
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
