Posted in News on Mar 21, 2012.
A goal in each half from Lucky Baloyi and Lehlohonolo Majoro saw Kaizer Chiefs bounce back to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership match at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The first 45 minutes was a half dominated by the Amakhosi as they controlled the possession stakes and looked threatening in attack throughout the half.
Celtic, on the other hand, looked a little blunt in attack and were unable to create many chances on goal.
Still, despite their domination, Chiefs tried to pass the ball into the back of the net instead of someone taking responsibility and having a shot on goal when applying pressure from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Lehlohonolo Majoro did come close to breaking the deadlock in the ninth minute when he saw his stinging shot from just inside the right edge of the 18-yard box strike the side-netting.
The home side continued to push forward and finally made their attacking pressure pay in the 36th minute when Lucky Baloyi scored one of the goals of the season.
The defensive midfielder let fly with a thunderbolt from roughly 35-yards out which sailed straight into the top left-hand corner of the net, giving the keeper no chance, 1-0.
Celtic tried to fight their way back into the match, but were being outclassed in the midfield and when they did get forward, they lacked that punch in attack.
Nonetheless, the Phunya Sele Sele did come close to levelling matters a minute before the break – only the brilliance of Itumeleng Khune kept the Phefeni Glamour Boys in front.
Celtic’s first corner of the match resulted in a goalmouth scramble which saw Letladi Madubanya attempt an overhead-kick from six-yards out, but he saw his acrobatic effort superbly saved by Khune’s feet.
The start of the second stanza saw Celtic come into the game and Madubanya should have equalised for the visitors in the 50th minute.
The Phunya Sele Sele man found himself through on goal and with just the keeper to beat, but he fired wide from 12-yards out.
Three minutes later and Celtic were made to rue their missed opportunity when Majoro doubled the home side’s lead.
Some good team work by Chiefs saw Masango drive into the box on the right side and supply a good cross to find Majoro unmarked four-yards out and he made no mistake side-footing the ball home, 2-0.
Celtic had a chance to reduce the deficit in the 64th minute, but again, this time second half substitute Ransford Osei squandered a great one-on-one chance with the keeper as he fired his shot straight at Khune.
As they half progressed the game became more open as Celtic pressed forward in search of a goal that could mount a comeback while Chiefs looked to hit on the counter-attack.
In the end Chiefs were able to hold onto their two goal lead and picked up a valuable three points which takes them to fourth on the table with a game in hand on the three teams in front of them.
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Baloyi 36’, Majoro 53’)
Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 0
Teams
Chiefs:
Celtic: Stemmer; Moleko, Mahoa, Mathoho, Nthethe, Mkhwanazi (Zothwane 60’), Mshengu (Motshegwa 55’), Madubanya, Kerspuy, Mongala, Mofokeng (Osei 61’)
