Kaizer Chiefs were dealt a blow to their top eight hopes after Bloemfontein Celtic came from two goals down to claim a 2-2 draw at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Saturday.
Gavin Hunt made four changes to the Chiefs' starting line-up all in the attacking part of the field as Kearyn Baccus, Samir Nurkovic, Happy Mashiane and Lebogang Manyama came into the side.
Chiefs took the lead in the third minute. Mzwanele Mahashe fouled Samir Nurkovic on the edge of the box. Happy Mashiane caught Celtic goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane off guard with a superb free-kick from the right as he went to the near post and a deflection helped it gather pace as the ball flew into the top corner.
Amakhosi doubled their lead ten minutes later from another set-piece when Bernard Parker took the short corner to Lebogang Manyama who whipped in a peach of a cross for Erick Mathoho to tower above the rest and head home.
Celtic pulled a goal back in the 22nd minute. Neo Maema played a brilliant one-two with Ndumiso Mabena, burst into the box and side-footed past Daniel Akpeyi.
Mashiane then almost grabbed his second in remarkable fashion. He took the free-kick all the way from the right touchline and nearly beat Mabokgwane over his head with the keeper scrambling to push it past the post.
Right on the stroke of half-time, Lucky Baloyi slipped a pass to Mabena inside the box and he let fly from a narrow angle which Akpeyi parried. Victor Letsoalo got to the rebound and fell under contact from the goalkeeper but the foul went against the striker.
Hunt made two changes at the interval, bringing on Bruce Bvuma and Reeve Frosler for Akpeyi and Erick Mathoho. Tebogo Potsane was brought on at half-time by Phunya Sele Sele tactician John Maduka with Shadrack Kobedi taken off.
And Potsane made an instant impact by winning a penalty. He played the ball to Mabena who backheeled the ball cleverly back into his path before he was brought down in the box by Siyabonga Ngezana. Letsoalo stepped up and sent Bvuma the wrong way to equalise.
Celtic looked for a responde and Justice Chabalala played the ball into the feet of Maema in the box and he swivelled well but fired wide of the left-hand upright.
Manyama then played a good ball down the right flank for Frosler, whose cross which looked destined for Nurkovic but it was cleared off his toes in the nick of time by Mahashe.
With 15 minutes to go, Zuma delivered a corner from the left which missed everyone and reached Daniel Cardoso at the back post for a headed chance but he couldn't get over the ball and nodded over from close range.
Soon after, Chabalala gave the ball away for Celtic and Zuma took the chance to strike from 30 yards with his effort flashing just wide as Mabokgwane was rooted to the spot.
Bvuma then came to the rescue for the visitors as he denied the hosts with a great save in the 83rd minute. Ngobeni made a superb late run into the box and hit it powerfully on the volley first-time with the Chiefs keeper diving at full stretch to his right to tip it away.
There were no clear-cut chances created in the rest of the encounter as Celtic claimed their 12th draw of the season.
Confirmed line-ups:
Celtic: Mabokgwane, Baloyi, Ngobeni, Chabalala, Rikhotso, Phalane, Mahashe, Maema, Kobedi, Mabena, Letsoalo.
Subs: Chaine, Van Der Ross, Lingwati, Potsane, Mashikinya, Ncobeni, Fikizolo, Mangweni, Sera.
Chiefs: Akpeyi, Zulu, Cardoso, Mathoho, Ngezana, Mashiane, Blom, Parker, Baccus, Manyama, Nurkovic.
Subs: Bvuma, Katsande, Mphahlele, Castro, Kambole, Agay, Frosler, Sasman, Zuma.