The first 45 minutes saw the home side control the majority of possession as they dictated the midfield battle. Still they struggled to create any real clear-cut chances in front of goal.

AmaZulu did nearly go in front, however, in only the ninth minute of the match but it was not through any skill of their own, but rather through a mishap by the Phunya Sele Sele goalie.

Dumisani Ngwenya fired in a weak shot from the edge of the 18 yard box that was further held up by the wind, but Patrick Tignyemb made a meal of the save almost fumbling the ball into the path of Dlamini who failed to steer the ball home from only a couple of yards out.

Then, somewhat against the run of play, Celtic managed to grab the lead after some beautiful set-up play in the 17th minute. Excellent Walaza provided a great through ball for Olomu to run onto and with only the keeper to beat the Phunya Sele Sele player made no mistake with a clinical finish, 1-0.

The Usuthu proceeded to press forward applying a world of pressure on the Celtic defence, which stood rather solid until the final minute of the half when Johannes Motlhaping pulled down Dlamini inside the 18 yard box. The referee did not hesitate in pointing towards the spot.

Subsequently, Marc Van Heerden stepped-up and fired his side level with a powerful penalty-kick, giving the keeper no chance, 1-1. Dlamini then thought he put AmaZulu in front a minute later when he beat Tignyemb in a one-on-one situation, but his goal was quickly ruled off-sides.

The second half saw Celtic come out a renewed side, with the wind behind them and looked determine to attack. Even Darrel Smith was introduced just after the break in place of Patrick Malokase so that the visitors could play two strikers up-front.

The game’s pattern from there on out became evident as Celtic pressed forward and the Usuthu looked to hit on the counter-attack while playing in a very defensive mode.

And Bloemfontein nearly went in front when Olomu pulled the best out of Mbongeni Mzimela in the Usuthu goal. The Celtic midfielder let fly from about 30 yards out with a powerful shot , but Mzimela was at his best diving full stretch to his right to tip the effort over the cross bar.

Then much like the first half, against the run of play and ten minutes from time, AmaZulu went in front when Dlamini latched onto a loose ball inside the 18 yard box and consequently fired his side in front from six yards out, 2-1.

That is the way the game ended as the home side held onto their lead and earned a valuable three points, handing Celtic their fourth loss of the league season.

AmaZulu (1) 2 (Van Heerden 45+1’ pen, Dlamini 80’)
Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 (Olomu 17’)

Teams

AmaZulu: Mzimela, Bishop, Mkhonza, Van Heerden, Biyela, Hadebe, Mokoro, Ngxabi, Sangweni (N Zwane 75’), Ngwenya (Ariweriyai 90’), A Dlamini

Celtic: Tignyemb, Nthethe, Sambu, Malokase (Smith 56’), Goldstone, Walaza, Kanono (Smit 82’), Motlhaping, Nhlapo, Segolela, Olomu (Ndlovu 86’).