Bloemfontein Celtic returned to winning form in the DStv Premiership by defeating Baroka FC 2-0 at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Late goals from Tumelo Mangweni and Ishmael Njoti proved the difference between the teams, with Phunya Sele Sele rising to 10th place on the log on seven points (having played a game less), while Bakgaga are seventh with 11 points.
Celtic settled the quicker of the two teams and began dictating terms in the middle of the park through Lanthsene Phalane and Siphelele Luthuli.
They had half chances in front of goal through Ndumiso Mabena and Victor Letsoalo inside the opening quarter hour, though neither was much trouble for Baroka goalkeeper Oscarine Masuluke.
The visitors threatened midway through the first half when Nhlanhla Mgaga teed up Evidence Makgopa with a sight of goal, but the striker failed to hit the target from the edge of the penalty area.
Bakgaga grew in confidence as the half progressed, but the interval arrived with the score still locked at 0-0.
The Limpopo side made the first change nine minutes into the second half when they put attacker Richard Mbulu on in place of Kgodiso Monama, who struggled to make an impact against Celtic’s well-organised defence.
Phunya Sele Sele saw a great chance flash by midway through the second stanza when Mabena got onto the end of a pass from Tebogo Potsane, but his effort was directed straight at Masuluke when he had only the goalkeeper to beat.
The team in green and white looked to keep up their momentum with the introduction of attacker Motebang Sera off the bench with 20 minutes to play, followed a while later by Given Mashikinya, Menzi Ndwandwe, Ishmael Njoti and Tumelo Mangweni in a quadruple substitution.
Celtic’s proactive approach paid dividends in the 81st minute when Mangweni finished off a fine attacking move, sending his effort beyond Masuluke to put the Bloemfontein team 1-0 up and on course for three points.
Baroka pushed hard for an equaliser in the dying stages, but Celtic offered a potent threat on the counter and were able to add to their advantage early in injury time when another sub, Njoti, struck home to complete the 2-0 score line.
Celtic and Baroka will have their final DStv Premiership matches of 2020 on Saturday, December 19, with the former away to Kaizer Chiefs and the latter at home to SuperSport United.
Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 2 (Mangweni 81’, Njoti 90+1’)
Baroka FC 0
CELTIC: Mabokgwane, Baloyi, Mahashe, Matjila, Lingwati, Masuku (Sera 70’), Phalane (Mangweni 79’), Luthuli (Mashikinya 78’), Potsane (Ndwandwe 78’), Mabena (Njoti 78’), Letsoalo
BAROKA: Masuluke, Makume, Shozi, Gebhardt, Jampies (Mahlonoko 90+1’), Masiya (Patjie 82’), Kambala (Afonso 90+1’), Mosele, Mgaga, Monama (Mbule 54’), Makgopa (Phiri Jnr 82’)© Backpage TXT.
SOURCED FROM THE PSL WEBSITE.
