Losing to Celtic puts more pressure on Cosmos, who have to win their remaining three matches of the season to ensure that they have a chance of playing top flight football next season. With fellow relegation candidates Mpumalanga Black Aces winning on Wednesday evening, things are looking bleak for Cosmos.

Even though Cosmos had the opportunity to put Celtic on the back foot in the seventh minute, Siza Dlamini shot wide.

The opportunity came about when Celtic defender Michael Khaile’s attempted overhead clearance fell invitingly to Dlamini, but all he did was send his shot across the face of goal and wide of Tignyemb’s poles.

While Cosmos were seeing more of the ball, they were not utilising their possession effectively and they also looked shaky at the back. In the 11th minute they were unable to effectively clear a Celtic attack and it took Lucky Mhlathe to knock Tlou Segolela off his feet to clear the danger.

Celtic should have been given a penalty but all they got was a corner, from which Johannes Motlhaping’s header was deflected wide by Ousmane Berthe.

It was frustrating half for Cosmos coach Jomo Sono, as his team were only interested in shooting from distance and were not taking advantage of the space afforded to them by working the ball into the Celtic 18-yard area before shooting for goal.

The visitors seemed content with waiting to take advantage of a single slip up by the Ezenkosi defence, and when the chance came their way Celtic made it count. Prince Olomu sent in a cross from the left, which Berthe seemed to have covered, but he missed the ball as he lunged at it, trying to head it away.

Fortuitously for Celtic, the ball went over to the right where Cecil Oerson quickly played to Malokase and he did not waste any time chipping the ball neatly over Avril Phali to give the Free Staters the lead on 31 minutes.

Cosmos came out looking more purposeful in the second half but it was Celtic who were keeping them at bay with some tight, disciplined defending, and they almost doubled their lead in the 55th minute.

Olomu dazzled the Cosmos defence with some nifty footwork down the right wing and worked his way into their 18-yard area before turning the ball towards Malokase, who brought the ball under control with his chest before lashing the ball at goal.

Phali, to his credit, made a brilliant two-handed stop and he had to get to his feet quickly as Thembile Kanono managed to get to the loose ball first. Phali again made a save, this time pushing the ball round his right-hand upright.

Cosmos awoke from their slumber just past the hour mark and it was some good build up play from them which saw Smith able to launch a shot at goal from a central position on the edge of the Celtic area in the 62nd minute. Tignyemb got down to make a routine save.

Four minutes after that it was again a patient build up from Cosmos that saw Gaccoussou Diarra in a similar position to Smith, but he hit the ball inches wide of goal.

Cosmos failed to hit the mark, with their final chance falling to Elhadji Samb, who drove the ball wide from around 20 yards from goal.

Jomo Cosmos 0
Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 (Malokase 31)

Cosmos: Phali, Berthe, Oluwafemi, Mhlathe, Theletsane (Gaberone 58’), Diarra, Samb, Sono (Badenhorst 68’), Moloto, Dlamini (Camara 53’), Smith

Celtic: Tignyemb, Motlhaping, Khaile, Goldstone, Nthethe, Oerson (Spandeel 72’), Olomu, Kanono (Mototo 56’), Segolela, Malokase (Walaza 63’).