Posted in Match Report, News, Team News on May 02, 2021.
1 May 2021
Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 2 (Maema 22‘, Letsoalo pen 54’)
Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Mashiane 4’, Mathoho 13’)
Kaizer Chiefs were held to a 2-2 draw in a DStv Premiership clash away from home against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung on Saturday afternoon. Chiefs were 2-0 up after 13 minutes with goals from Happy Mashiane and Erick Mathoho. Celtic managed to claw their way back into the game with Neo Maema pulling one back in the 22nd minute, Victor Letsoalo then converted a 54th minute penalty to ensure the teams shared the points. Just four minutes in, Samir Nurković was brought down just outside the right edge of the Celtic 18-yard area by Mzwanele Mahase. From the resulting freekick, Mashiane drilled the ball powerfully goal wards with the ball evading the two-man Celtic wall as it flew powerfully past at pace giving Celtic keeper Jackson Mabokgwane no chance of getting to the ball, despite his best attempts as Chiefs took the lead beating him to his left.
Chiefs were looking composed and full of confidence having scored early on and in the 13th minute Amakhosi doubled their advantage. Bernard Parker did well to win a corner and took it from the left playing the ball short to Lebogang Manyama, who sweetly curled the ball into the danger zone which found Mathoho who got to the ball ahead of the luckless Mahase - with Mabokgwane off his line, Mathoho headed the ball home making it 2-0.
The action continued thick and fast and Celtic found a goal back in the 22nd minute. Justice Chabalala lifted the ball over the top from the back for Maema who played a quick pass to Ndumiso Mabena who in turn sent him clear on goal with a first time pass. Maema ran onto the ball and placed it past Daniel Akpeyi to make the score 2-1. in 24th minute, Mashiane tested Mabokgwane with another rasping free kick from the right which seemed to be dipping into the goal. It took a leap off the ground from the Celtic keeper as he threw his hands in the air and sent the ball out with a fingertip save to avert the danger. Akpeyi matched the Celtic keeper in the 43rd minute as he stood tall to push over a thunderous effort at goal from Victor Letsoalo’s angled shot from the right. A few minutes later Akpeyi was called upon again. First he made a good block from Mabena at close range. Akpeyi then tried to grab the loose ball but crashed into the knee of Letsoalo after he had managed to initially push the ball away and then knocking into the Chiefs keeper.
Akpeyi struggled to finish the half but went into the changing room after receiving treatment from the Chiefs medical staff with Amakhosi leading 2-1 at the break. Chiefs made two injury enforced changes at the start of the second half with Bruce Bvuma coming on for Daniel Akpeyi, while Mathoho made way for Reeve Frosler. Celtic on the other hand took off Shadrack Kobedi and brought on Tebogo Potsane. Chiefs had the first chance of the second half after a throw in from the right by Frosler was not effectively cleared by Celtic. The ball eventually fell to Kearyn Baccus on the edge of the 18-yard area, he hit the ball at the first time of asking and had Mabokgwane sprawling across the floor to make the save under difficult circumstances with a host of players standing in front of him.
Celtic were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute when Ngezana knocked over substitute Potsane, from the spot kick Letsoalo rolled the ball to his left sending Bvuma the wrong way to level up scores at 2-2. Daniel Cardoso was caught out by an awkwardly bouncing ball in the 74th minute as a corner from the left came over the ball fell to the back post where the defender was lurking. As the ball fell to him, it took a weird bounce putting him slightly off which resulted in his eventual header at goal from close range missing the target. Bvuma was alert and aware in the 83rd minute as he leaped to his left to stop a side footed effort by Sifiso Ngobeni, after he had reached a cross from the right ahead of Frosler, but the Chiefs keeper was up to the challenge making a vital save.
The game ended 2-2 with neither team able to get a third goal that would have seen them collect all three points and enhance their top eight ambitions.
Teams:
Chiefs: Akpeyi (Bvuma 46’); Mathoho (Frosler 46’), Ngezana, Cardoso, Zulu, Blom, Parker ©, Baccus (Mphahlele 56’), Mashiane (Zuma 56’), Manyama ; Nurković (Castro 81’)
Subs not used: Sasman, Agay, Katsande, Kambole
Celtic: Mabokgwane; Ngobeni, Baloyi, Mahashe, Rikhotso (Ncobeni 90), Chabalala, Kobedi (Potsane 46’), Phalane, Maema; Letsoalo, Mabena ©
Subs not used: Chaine; Van der Ross, Mashikinya, Chabalala, Lingwati, Fikizolo, Mangweni, Sera
What’s Next:
Chiefs are next in action when they face Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila F.C. in an away DStv Premiership Clash on Tuesday at 17:00.
