Lentjies wins it for Maritzburg

Kurt Lentjies' solitary's goal earned Maritzburg United a 1-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership clash played at the Dr. Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein on Wednesday night.

The Team of Choice registered a hard-fought victory over Phunya Sele Sele in their first league game of the 2016/17 campaign.

The visitors were denied an early goal by Celtic defender Patrick Tignyemb, who produced a good save to deny Bevan Fransman in the fifth minute.

The former Cameroon under-23 shot-stopper pulled off another decent save eight minutes later, denying Maritzburg midfielder Philani Zulu.

On the half-hour mark, Maritzburg talisman Kurt Lentjies played a dangerous curling corner-kick into the box and Tignyemb punched it away.

Phunya Sele Sele pressed the Team of Choice towards halftime as they looked snatch a goal before the break.

Arrows shot-stopper Virgil Vries produced a good save to deny Celtic midfielder Lyle Lakay on the stroke of halftime.

However, just five minutes into the second-half Lentjies fired Maritzburg into the lead when he beat Tignyemb after following up first from a rebound.

Celtic head coach Serame Letsoaka responded by pulling out Deon Hotto for dribbling wizard Kethokwakhe Masuku in the 56th minute.

The former Orlando Pirates winger forced Maritzburg shot-stopper Vries into a decent save ten minutes later as he made an immediate impact.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Celtic defender Alfred Ndengane pulled the trigger from range, but his attempt went wide of the target.

However, Maritzburg managed to contain Celtic in the late stages of the game and in the end they emerged 1-0 winners.

Celtic 0

Maritzburg (0) 1 (Lentjies 50')

Teams:

Bloemfontein Celtic XI: P.Tignyemb, R.Sankara, W.Letlabika, A.Ndengane, D.Hotto (K.Masuku 56'), M.Dube, K.Mahlasela (D.Zuma 72'), S.Mxoyana (A.Nyondo 75', L.Lakay, V.Shikweni, S.Masana.

Maritzburg United XI: V.Vries, B.Moon (P.Sanoka 46'), B.Fransman, B.Onyango, D.Weidlich, B.Moyo, D.Mekoa, P.Zulu, K.Lentjies (M.Mokate 90'), A.Fileccia (S.Van Wyk 46'), E.Rusike.