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QwaQwa - A goal four minutes from time which was deflected by Free State Stars Jonathan Mensah earned Bloemfontein Celtic a 1-0 win over Stars in a hard fought Absa Premiership Free State Derby played at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Sunday.
The Ghanaian defender watched helplessly when Tlou Segolela’s pile driver deflected off his foot and into his net for the only goal in the 86th minute.
It was a disappointing start for new Stars coach Gordon Igesund who joined Stars last Monday. His captain Duncan Lechesa missed a 49th minute penalty which summed up Stars and Igesund’s day.
There were no fireworks in a disappointing opening 45 minutes in which neither goalkeeper, Stars' Kennedy Mweene nor Patrick Tignyemb, were tested.
The visitors, Celtic, took the initiative while Stars sat back and were content to hit Celtic on the counter attack. The fact that Igesund had only been at Stars for six days meant he had not had enough time to get to know his players or their strengths and weaknesses. And his new charges looked nervous.
Celtic claimed a hand ball in the eighth minute when defender Tshegofatso Mashego appeared to handle inside his penalty area but referee Jacob Frolick waved play on.
Former Stars midfielder Prince Olomu, who joined Celtic at the start of the season, tried his luck with a long range shot which went wide in the 12th minute.
But Celtic striker Excellent Walaza wasted a good chance to score two minutes later when, with only Mweene to beat, the former Orlando Pirates player wanted a touch too many and lost possession.
Celtic striker Moses Spandeel shot over the crossbar in a rare shot at goal from either side while Stars midfielder Manti Moholo hit the upright a minute from the break from an acute angle.
Stars started off livelier in the second half and came close when substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo laid off a defence-splitting pass to Moholo who forced Tignyemb to make a timely save in the 48th minute.
A minute later, Frolick awarded Stars a penalty for what appeared to be a hand ball by Celtic skipper Thabo Nthethe. But the spot kick was wasted when Lechesa blasted his kick wide of the goal.
Segolela was wide with a snap shot in the 58th minute while a minute later Stars striker Tebelo Mofokeng was wide of the upright.
Then came the miss of the day on the 82nd minute when Celtic substitute Sandile Ndlovu missed a sitter when he shot wide of the post with the goal at his mercy as Phunya Sele-Sele piled on the pressure looking for the winner.
Ndlovu’s miss had his coach Owen da Gama flinging his cap to the ground in frustration. Two minutes later, another substitute Mark Mayambela did brilliantly to chip Mweene only for his shot to roll wide of the post.
Then Segolela’s rocket settled the match when Mensah deflected the ball into his net in the 86th minute.
The Ghanaian defender watched helplessly when Tlou Segolela’s pile driver deflected off his foot and into his net for the only goal in the 86th minute.
It was a disappointing start for new Stars coach Gordon Igesund who joined Stars last Monday. His captain Duncan Lechesa missed a 49th minute penalty which summed up Stars and Igesund’s day.
There were no fireworks in a disappointing opening 45 minutes in which neither goalkeeper, Stars' Kennedy Mweene nor Patrick Tignyemb, were tested.
The visitors, Celtic, took the initiative while Stars sat back and were content to hit Celtic on the counter attack. The fact that Igesund had only been at Stars for six days meant he had not had enough time to get to know his players or their strengths and weaknesses. And his new charges looked nervous.
Celtic claimed a hand ball in the eighth minute when defender Tshegofatso Mashego appeared to handle inside his penalty area but referee Jacob Frolick waved play on.
Former Stars midfielder Prince Olomu, who joined Celtic at the start of the season, tried his luck with a long range shot which went wide in the 12th minute.
But Celtic striker Excellent Walaza wasted a good chance to score two minutes later when, with only Mweene to beat, the former Orlando Pirates player wanted a touch too many and lost possession.
Celtic striker Moses Spandeel shot over the crossbar in a rare shot at goal from either side while Stars midfielder Manti Moholo hit the upright a minute from the break from an acute angle.
Stars started off livelier in the second half and came close when substitute Sthembiso Ngcobo laid off a defence-splitting pass to Moholo who forced Tignyemb to make a timely save in the 48th minute.
A minute later, Frolick awarded Stars a penalty for what appeared to be a hand ball by Celtic skipper Thabo Nthethe. But the spot kick was wasted when Lechesa blasted his kick wide of the goal.
Segolela was wide with a snap shot in the 58th minute while a minute later Stars striker Tebelo Mofokeng was wide of the upright.
Then came the miss of the day on the 82nd minute when Celtic substitute Sandile Ndlovu missed a sitter when he shot wide of the post with the goal at his mercy as Phunya Sele-Sele piled on the pressure looking for the winner.
Ndlovu’s miss had his coach Owen da Gama flinging his cap to the ground in frustration. Two minutes later, another substitute Mark Mayambela did brilliantly to chip Mweene only for his shot to roll wide of the post.
Then Segolela’s rocket settled the match when Mensah deflected the ball into his net in the 86th minute.
