Segolela and Mahoa © Gallo Images

Roger De Sa suffered his first defeat as Orlando Pirates coach when Lennox Bacela’s goal 11 minutes from time earned Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 home win over the defending league champions in an Absa Premiership match played at the Free State Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

As early as the second minute Pirates had a chance when striker Thulasizwe Mbuyane was offered a chance to shoot from outside the box on the left side, but his shot flew wide across the face goal.

Ten minutes later the home side had a good chance which went a begging when Ruzaigh Gamildien tried a shot from a tight angle, but Josephs easily saved it. The Celtic striker should have crossed instead for his two teammates in the box.

As the match proceeded Pirates were in the ascendency as in the 18th minute Onyekachi Okonkwo curled a beautiful right footed shot from 20-yards, but Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb parried the ball out for a corner kick.

In the 22nd minute Okwonko's low strike from 20 yards out just missed the target as the Pirates' midfield were dominating proceedings. Two minutes later Pirates got another chance as Oupa Manyisa shot from a tight angle on the right but his effort was also parried away for a corner kick.

In the 34th minute there was a double chance for Pirates as Mbuyane rattled the woodwork from eight yards out, and as the ball rebounded he had a second bite at the cherry from just outside the small box but his low shot was gathered by the Celtic keeper.

On the hour mark Sifiso Myeni cut inside from the left side of attack but his shot went high as he pulled the trigger and tried to replicate his midweek goal against Ajax Cape Town.

In the 65th Celtic fluffed a golden opportunity when Lerato Manzini was one-on-one with Josephs but his shot was blocked by the keeper, who narrowed down the shooting angle.

With 11 minutes remaining Punya Sele Sele found the back of the net after a long throw in saw Mogomotsi lob the ball over the Pirates defence and Bacela hustled his way past two Bucs defenders and put the ball beyond Josephs.

Celtic should have doubled their led in the 87th minute when Mduduzi Nyanda unleashed a shot which was deflected toward an empty net, but Lucky Lekgwathi cleared the ball off the line.

Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 1 (Bacela 79)

Celtic: Tignyemb, Nthethe, Mahoa, Isaacs, Madubanya, Mzava, Gamildien (Nyanda 68’), Manzini (Nontshinga 77’), Mogorosi, Arwuah (Duiker 73), Bacela

Pirates: Josephs, Mahamutsa, Sangweni, Manyisa, Mbuyane, Jali, Lekgwathi, Myeni, Matlaba (Mabena 82), Okwonko (Bester 75’), Segolela (Mbesuma 58’)