Celtic held by SuperSport in Bloemfontein

Bloemfontein Celtic were held to a goalless draw by SuperSport United in an Absa Premiership match at Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The result sees Phunya Sele Sele missing out on the chance to go to the top of the log – instead they are up to second place on 21 points from 11 matches, two points behind leaders Orlando Pirates but with two games in hand on the Soweto giants. Matsatsantsa are up to fourth with 19 points from their 11 outings this season.
The teams traded half chances through the first quarter hour, but Celtic created the first clear openings in the 18th and 19thminutes – both required fine saves from Ronwen Williams, who first came quickly off his line to close down Menzi Masuku, before tipping away a goal-bound drive from the same player less than 60 seconds later.
The team in green and white continued to look dangerous in attack, while SuperSport struggled to bring forwards James Keene and Evans Rusike into the game. Yet the halftime break saw the score still locked at 0-0, something Phunya Sele Sele would have been frustrated with given their dominance.
The hosts picked up in the second half where they had left off in the first, and 10 minutes after the restart they should have claimed the lead when a fine passing move ended with Tshegofatso Mabaso having a clear sight of goal, but he fired his effort high and wide.
United goalkeeper Williams continued to be a major obstacle for Celtic to get past, as he made two saves in quick succession to keep Kabelo Dlamini at bay a few minutes before the hour mark – much as he did against Masuku earlier in the game.
Matsatsantsa rarely troubled Celtic’s defence, but they could have gone ahead very much against the run of play in the 65thminute, with Bongani Khumalo missing from a free header after he had been well picked out from a set piece.
The chance seemed to spark some life into the visitors, with Rusike soon cutting inside from the left and firing a shot just wide of Patrick Tignyemb’s left-hand post, while substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane and fellow midfielder Phumlani Ntshangase both tested out the Celtic goalkeeper with powerful shots in the 76th and 79th minutes respectively.
Yet the score line remained blank up to the fulltime whistle, with the spoils shared. Both teams will be back in Absa Premiership action on Sunday, December 2, with Celtic at home to Polokwane City and SuperSport United hosting Tshwane derby rivals Mamelodi Sundowns at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
TEAMS
Celtic: Tignyemb, Letlabika, Gordinho, Rikhotso, Sam (Pfumbidzai 65’), Masuku (Mangweni 76’), Phalane, Mashikinya, Dlamini (Potsane 71’), Mabena, Mabaso
SuperSport: Williams, Kekana, Khumalo, Fleurs, Boateng, Lakay (Mahlatsi 74’), Mokoena (Letsholonyane 60’), Ntshangase, Modiba, Rusike, Keene