Lyle Lakay’s goal handed Bloemfontein Celtic a vital win as they beat Polokwane City 1-0 in their Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The victory for the Mangaung-based side takes them to the 12th spot on the log table with 22 points from 21 matches.
Despite a scorching heat in the Limpopo province, the opening 10 minutes of the tie saw Bernard Molekwa’s men controlling the contest as they wanted to get an early goal.
However, it was Lakay who received a great ball into the penalty area, but his right footed attempt failed to trouble goalkeeper George Chigova as it went wide in the 11th minute.
The hosts intensified their attack towards the 15th minute and Thapelo Tshilo’s header beat keeper Patrick Tignyemb only to hit the cross bar, but Siwelele regrouped to clear the danger.
Rise and Shine hit the woodwork for the second time through Puleng Tlolane in the 22nd minute as they penetrated Celtic’s defence with their short passes.
On the stroke of halftime, Lakay was on the end of a brilliant pass from the right flank and the midfielder failed to connect with the ball from a perfect position to break the deadlock.
Lehlohonolo Seema’s men kept knocking for an opening goal and Tshepo Rikhotso saw his free header coming off the left post from a corner with Chigova becoming a spectator.
Although both sides did not create clear cut chances in the second stanza, City skipper Jabulani Maluleke saw his low shot going wide in the 59th minute resulting from good passes by the hosts.
However, with 16 minutes to go, Lakay produced a thunderous strike to beat Chigova from a distance, handing the visitors a well deserved lead.
In the 77th minute, Rodney Ramagalela tried to chip Tignyemb off his goal line with a long shot, but the former Mamelodi Sundowns man missed the target.
City piled more pressure on Celtic, probing for their equalising goal, but Tignyemb was stable as he collected all the high ball and denied Maluleke from a dangerous set piece.
Right in injury time, Ramagalela hit the woodwork from close range as they pushed to find a late equaliser, but it was not meant to be as Celtic claimed a vital win.
In the wake of the defeat, City remain placed at No 7 on the log table with 27 points from 22 league rounds of matches so far.
