The Amakhosi confirmed their place in top eight with a routine 2-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic at Loftus on Wednesday evening. Two goals in either half from Arthur Zwane and Mabhudi Khenyeza ensured that Chiefs kept up their 100% home record in PSL matches against Celtic. Zwane gave Chiefs the lead just before half time when he connected with a pass from Siphiwe Tshabalala, who had fought all the way with the Celtic rear guard to get the ball out wide to Zwane. Khenyeza made certain of the points with Chiefs second as he rounded Shuaib Walters just past the hour mark.

The win has kept up The Amakhosi’s perfect home record against Celtic as Chiefs have now scored a combined twelve goals in their last four home league matches against Celtic. Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral was pleased with the win and broke into a big smile demonstrating his happiness with his team who have now won there last three games and can still finish in third place.

Early pressure

In the space of four first half minutes Chiefs could have been two goals up, in the fourth minute Tshabalala curled a ball to Shaun Bartlett who was just on the edge of the Celtic 18 yard area. Bartlett managed to get to the ball and chested the ball into the path of Tshabalala who had continued his run into the area, from a few yards away he connected with the ball and drove it goal wards though it beat Walters the ball nestled into the side netting. Four minutes later and Moketi Tsotetsi headed a David Mathebula corner from the left narrowly over Walters cross bar.

Mahlatsi waste

After doing all the hard work Petros Mahlatsi spurned a fantastic goal scoring opportunity on 31 minutes, he did well to knock an air ball over the head of Chiefs defender Fabian McCarthy. With acres of space and just Amakhosi keeper Khune to beat he hurried his shot and hit the ball on the volley wide of Khune, and out to safety for a Chiefs goal kick.

Khenyeza option

Khenyeza was played in on goal by a good ball along the ground from Mathebula on the right; he shrugged off the attention of Cyrille Mubiala and found himself with a sight of goal. Instead of shooting for goal he tried squaring the ball in the hope of finding Bartlett who was a couple of paces behind, and the ball just rolled across the face of goal. This action took place in the 33rd minute of the match.

Zwane drives home

All of Chiefs first half dominance came to fruition two minutes before half time; Khenyeza started the move by holding the ball up and played it back towards Mathebula who was just in front of the half way line. Mathebula in turn was closely marked and stuck out a foot getting a lucky break as the ball hit him and flew into the path of Tshabalala who moved wide to the left, and as he tried to enter the Celtic 18 yard area Tumelo Nhlapho tried stopping him but he skillfully turned him and then found Walters coming out and he quickly looked up and played the ball quickly out to the far edge where Zwane was. The veteran midfield side footed the ball with some power into the gaping net, to hand his team the lead and score his second league goal of the season.

Celtic poser

The second half of the match saw Celtic put up a very pedestrian performance and were mostly defending. Darryl Smith a second half Celtic substitution latched on to a poor clearance from Moketi Tsotetsi. His 62nd minute volley though sailed across goal to safety at that stage Chiefs lead by a single goal, Lebohang Kukame made Itumeleng Khune work firstly with a 20 yard pile driver in the 69th minute. Which Khune had to throw himself at to stop the ball, Kukame then made Khune push a final minute free kick over the post as he floated a free kick from a tight angle over the Chiefs wall.

Double fun

Khenyeza got his goal tally when he clinically finished off a move in the 65th minute which was put together by a number of neat quick passes, for Khenyeza it was the case of the one that went in. This after he missed a glaring header just after the restart, Thuso Phala got things moving with a bass back to Bhasera, he in turn picked out David Mathebula with another quick pass. Mathebula rolled the ball forward Celtic defender Batbaire stuck out a leg but could not reach the ball, Khenyeza did and picked it up and rounded Walters before knocking the ball into a welcome open net for his eight league goal and tenth in all competition for the season.

Match Details:

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 32. Khune, 2. Tau, 3. Bhasera, 6. McCarthy, 29. Tsotetsi,

24. Mathebula, 14. Tshabalala, 18. Zwane, 8. Nengomasha, 17. Bartlett, 5. Khenyeza

Substitutions:

In: 26. Thuso Phala - Out: 18. Arthur Zwane 60 min


In: 28. Derrick Spencer - Out: 6. Fabian McCarthy 76 min


In: 10. Michael Nkambule - Out: 24. David Mathebula 86 min

Substitutes not used: 1. Bocsker, 20. Zuke, 7. Motaung, 23. Bulu

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 6. Fabian McCarthy (blocking Moses Spandeel) 51 min

Coach: Muhsin Ertugral


Assistant Coach: Fani Madida


Goalkeeper Coach: Rainer Dinkelacker

Bloemfontein Celtic (4-4-2): 30. Walters, 4. Nhalpho, 28. Goldstone, 21. Mubiala,

6. Batabaire, 18. Maduka, 2. Nthethe, 24. Kukame, 19. Mahlatsi, 11. Spandeel,10. Taaibos

Substitutions:

In: 37. Darryl Smith - Out: 24. Lebohang Kukame 58 min


In: 8. Grant Smit - Out: 2. Thabo Nthethe 73 min


In: 34. Mark Mayambela - Out: 4. Tumelo Nhlapho 78 min

Substitutes not used: 31. Omony, 17. Malokase, 5. Kamohelo, 13. Mothlaping

Cautions: Yellow Cards, 37. Darryl Smith (knocking over Tshabalala) 68 min

Coach: Demetori Augosti

Match Officials:

Referee: Robert Sithole


Assistant 1: Johannes Mashidi


Assistant 2: Lazarus Matela


4th Official: Gabriel Sekopo


Match Commissioner: Adeel Carelse