Mzwanele Mahashe of Bloemfontein Celtic celebrates goal with teammates during the Absa Premiership match between Supersport United and Bloemfontein Celtic on 16 August 2020 at Bidvest Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
SuperSport United 1-1 Bloemfontein Celtic: PSL Highlights and results
SuperSport United dominated possession but could not do enough to claim three points in their 1-1 PSL draw against Bloemfontein Celtic.
Mzwanele Mahashe of Bloemfontein Celtic celebrates goal with teammates during the Absa Premiership match between Supersport United and Bloemfontein Celtic on 16 August 2020 at Bidvest Stadium Pic Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix
SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a 1-1 draw in their PSL match at the Bidvest Stadium on Sunday 16 August.
Bloemfontein Celtic had early chance from setpieces including a very strange free-kick against Ronwen Williams, for handling outside the area when replays showed he was impeded and committed no offence.
SuperSport United vs Bloemfontein Celtic: PSL match report
Celtic did not make the most of their early chances while SuperSport were patient and looked to pass their way through their opponents.
SuperSport United restarted their campaign on Sunday, while Celtic progressed to the Nedbank Cup final with victory over Baroka FC last weekend.
The opening 15 minutes was punctuated by frequent stoppages and saw SuperSport United’s Thatayaone Ditlhokwe booked for a reckless challenge and some afters.
Sipho Mbule followed his teammate into the book after another little scuffle. Mbule will miss the next match with a mandatory suspension having accumulated his fifth yellow.
Bradley Grobler was inches away from opening the scoring for SuperSport in the 18th minute of the game, but his thunderous shot hit the underside of the crossbar and deflected out.
Grobler was lurking again just after the water break, but a desperate block prevented the striker from getting the opener just before the half-hour mark.
Celtic found their range from setpieces with a great corner kick and a goalkeeping error from Williams allowed Mzwanele Mahashe to score. Replays showed he had handled the ball before scoring but the referee missed it and the goal stood.
Watch: Mahashe gives Celtic a 1-0 lead
SuperSport came at Celtic with renewed vigour, but Onismor Bhasera spurned a brace of chance in the minutes that followed the opening goal.
Celtic continued to look to play direct and hit SuperSport on the break while their opponents dominated possession. The nominal ‘away’ side thought they were in again in first half stoppage time but the offside flag went up. Sifiso Ngubeni went too soon but that served as a warning to SuperSport United.
The first half ended with Celtic leading 1-0 despite SuperSport United enjoying 57 per cent of the ball.
The second half started with a flurry of half chances with the balance falling to SuperSport United with Celtic still content to sit back.
An error by Celtic’s goalkeeper gave Teboho Mokoena a chance to hit a free kick from the edge of the area, and the midfielder did not disappoint striking it well and seeing it go in off the upright at the near post.
Watch: Mokoena makes it SuperSport United 1-1 Celtic
SuperSport had a penalty shout turned down ten minutes into the second half, but it was ruled to be a ball-to-hand incident, and Matsatsantsa fans might be forgiven for feeling every 50-50 decision was going against them.
On the hour mark, Grobler had another chance after some neat build-up play, but he hit his effort on the turn straight at the keeper.
SuperSport looked likely, and a strong header from Gamphani Lungu drew a sharp save out of Sipho Chaine in the Bloemfontein Celtic goal just before the second half water break.
Lungu created a great opportunity for Guily Manziba late on but he hit his diving header straight at Chaine, straight afterwards Ndumiso Mabena was kept out by Williams as Celtic looked to strike on the break.
Grant Kekana afforded Celtic a golden opportunity on the edge of the area and earned himself a yellow card for a reckless challenge in the 85th minute. Neo Maema slammed his left-footed shot over the top of Williams’ goal though and the match stayed deadlocked.
That is how it would finish and the 1-1 result sees SuperSport United move up to third ahead of Orlando Pirates on goal difference while Bloemfontein Celtic capture tenth spot from Stellenbosch FC.
