Polokwane City Bloemfontein Celtic PSL report
Posted: 8 August 2015 Time: 14:25
Polokwane City beat Bloemfontein Celtic 3-2 in a thrilling Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The home side were without coach Kosta Papic, who was still awaiting his work permit - a problem which also meant Geoffry Massa and Helder Pelembe couldn't feature for Celtic.
City took the lead after just seven minutes through Jabulani Maluleke, who sidefooted home despite a brilliant attempt by goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb, with the assistant referee ruling the ball had crossed the line.
The hosts kept on pressing, but Celtic gradually came into the game and were gifted a goal on 35 minutes when Nazier Jacobs' backpass was intercepted and Thapelo Morena slotted home across debutant Pule Konopi.
However, the goalie was brilliant a few minutes later when he rushed out to save at Morena's feet.
The game swung from end to end after the break, but Celtic eventually took the lead on 74 minutes through Lerato Lamola, who fired into the roof of the net after an excellent flick-on from Musa Nyatama.
However, City were level a minute later through substitute Linda Shiba, who finished from close range, before Thobani Mncwango got the winner eight minutes from time after expertly controlling a perfectly timed through-ball from Man of the Match Maluleke.
HOME: Polokwane City
Coach: Kosta Papic
Formation: 4-2-2-2
- 26 Pule Konopi
- 2 Punch Masenamela
- 5 Lebohang Motumi
- 22 Sibusiso Mbonani
- 31 Mfundo Phungwayo
- 8 Jabu Maluleke
- 11 Jorry Matjila
68 mins - Linda Shiba - 18 Nazier Jacobs
46 mins - Boban Bogere - 20 Jabulani Nene
- 10 Puleng Tlolane
- 19 Rendani Ndou
77 mins - Thobani Mncwango
AWAY: Bloemfontein Celtic
Coach: Clinton Larsen
Formation: 4-2-3-1
- 30 Patrick Tignyemb
- 5 Wandisile Letlabika
- 19 Tumelo Mogapi
- 22 Tshepo Rikhotso
- 28 Musa Bilankulu
- 4 Musa Nyatama
- 7 Lyle Lakay
70 mins - Dumisani Zuma - 10 Keagan Buchanan
- 12 Thapelo Morena
89 mins - Tshegofatso Mabaso - 27 Alfred Ndengane
- 41 Lerato Lamola