Bloemfontien - Bloemfontein Celtic inflicted Roger De Sa’s first defeat as Orlando Pirates coach when they beat the defending PSL champions 1-0 at the Free State Stadium on Sunday afternoon thanks to a second half winner scored by Lennox Bacela eleven minutes from time.
In the second minute of the match Thulasizwe Mbuyane was offered a chance to shoot from outside the box on the left side, but his shot flew wide across the face of goal.
In the 10th minute the home side had their first chance at goal which was wasted when Ruzaigh Gamildien tried a shot from a tight angle but Moeneeb Josephs easily saved it. The Celtic striker should have crossed instead for his two team-mates in the box.
Pirates started grabbing the match by the scuff of the neck when in the 18th minute Onyekachi Okonkwo curled a beautiful right footed shot from 20-yards out, but Celtic 'keeper Tignyemb parried the ball out for a corner kick.
The Buccaneers had another effort at goal two minutes later as midfield dynamo 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.
In the 65th Celtic fluffed a golden opportunity when Lerato Manzini was one-on-one with Josephs but his shot was blocked by the goalie, who narrowed down the shooting angle.
In the 79th the stadium was in raptures when the home side found the lead. After a long throw in, Mogomotsi lobbed the ball over the Pirates defence and Bacela sneaked his way past two Bucs defenders Lekgwathi and Rooi Mahamutsa 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.
In the second minute of the match Thulasizwe Mbuyane was offered a chance to shoot from outside the box on the left side, but his shot flew wide across the face of goal.
In the 10th minute the home side had their first chance at goal which was wasted when Ruzaigh Gamildien tried a shot from a tight angle but Moeneeb Josephs easily saved it. The Celtic striker should have crossed instead for his two team-mates in the box.
Pirates started grabbing the match by the scuff of the neck when in the 18th minute Onyekachi Okonkwo curled a beautiful right footed shot from 20-yards out, but Celtic 'keeper Tignyemb parried the ball out for a corner kick.
The Buccaneers had another effort at goal two minutes later as midfield dynamo 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.
In the 65th Celtic fluffed a golden opportunity when Lerato Manzini was one-on-one with Josephs but his shot was blocked by the goalie, who narrowed down the shooting angle.
In the 79th the stadium was in raptures when the home side found the lead. After a long throw in, Mogomotsi lobbed the ball over the Pirates defence and Bacela sneaked his way past two Bucs defenders Lekgwathi and Rooi Mahamutsa 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.