CELTIC SECURE TOP EIGHT SPOT
Bloemfontein Celtic secured a 3-1 win over AmaZulu FC in an Absa Premiership match at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday.
The victory took Phunya Sele Sele to eighth place on the league standings, while Usuthu finished the season on 11th spot.
Usuthu got off to a flying start as they broke the deadlock just four minutes into the encounter through Sphesihle Maduna.
The promising midfielder scored his first ever Absa Premiership goal to make it 1-0 to AmaZulu after being set-up by Somila Ntsundwana.
Phunya Sele Sele then pushed for the equalising goal and they had a chance to level matters in the 19th minute.
However, AmaZulu shot-stopper Siyabonga Mbatha produced a great save to deny Teboho Khasipe as the visitors survived a scare.
The hosts kept pushing and they managed to level matters through Maloisane Ramasimong.
The 29-year-old player scored with a header to make it 1-1 for Celtic heading into the halftime break.
Charlie Hlalele, who had replaced injured Maduna in the first-half, had a chance to restore AmaZulu’s lead after the restart.
However, the former Orlando Pirates reserve team player failed to test Sipho Chaine in Celtic goal seven minutes into the second-half.
Siyabonga Nomvethe, who is set to retire at the end of the current season, was introduced in the 73rd minute as AmaZulu looked to grab a late winning goal.
However, it was the hosts’ late substitute Rendani Ndou, who netted in the 80th minute to make it 2-1 to Celtic.
The former Polokwane City striker was not done as he sealed Celtic’s 3-1 win over AmaZulu in stoppage time after Nomvethe’s effort had hit crossbar.
Celtic (1) 3 (Ramasimong 43′, Ndou 80, 90’+2)
AmaZulu (1) 1 (Maduna 4′)
Celtic: Chaine, Ramasimong (Mofokeng 89′), Sam, Mahashe, Baloyi, Maema, Mabasa (Ndou 70′), Mashikinya, Dlamini (Mangweni 79′), Tani, Khasiphe.
AmaZulu: Mbatha, M.Gumede, Madela (P.Gumede 46′), Van Heerden, T.Gumede, Vilakazi, Darpoh, Ncube, Maduna (Hlalele 34′), Ntsundwana (Nomvethe 73′), Ntuli.
