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It was certainly not the most entertaining of football matches as no side really took firm control of the encounter. Instead both teams looked very lack lustre and constantly squandered possession with some poor passing.
Adding to the spectators woes was the lack of goal mouth action. In fact there were only three shots on goal in a very disappointing 90 minutes.
The visiting side, though, had the perfect start as they found the back of the net early on courtesy of a great long range Mulenga strike. The Phunya Sele Sele attacking midfielder picked up the ball about 40-yards out from goal before driving forward and unleashing a thunderbolt that found the bottom right hand corner of the goal, 1-0.
Subsequently, Celtic seemed to grow in confidence and for the next ten minutes played some nice football. This saw the side from Bloemfontein almost doubled their lead in the 16th minute, thanks again to Mulenga who tried his luck from 30-yards out, but the Aces keeper was up to the challenge and made a comfortable save.
Thereafter, however, both sides fell into a rather boring slump as the ball fizzed from one side of the pitch to the other and there was no more action in front of goal. The home side, in particular, were really poor and looked out of their depth.
The second half was not much better and the fans let the players know with their boos and constant demands for more action.
Sadly, neither side could lift their game as they both continued in their dreary fashion. Even the substitute changes failed to bring the game to life.
The only excitement in front of goal in the second half came in the 74th minute when David Mathebula squandered a golden opportunity to draw Aces level. The midfielder found himself in possession 12-yards out from goal, but he failed to find the target with his shot that he dragged just wide.
Five minutes later and the crowd witnessed some more action, this time not in front of goal. Instead Aces problems grew as Bienvenue Tipa was sent from the field after receiving his second yellow card of the match.
The game ended 1-0 in favourite of Celtic and Aces remain rooted to the bottom of the league table.
MP Black Aces (0) 0
Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 M(Mulenga 9’)
Teams
Aces: Francis Chansa - Marc Eberle, Fabian McCarthy, Thabang Rooi, Joseph Henyekane - James Madidilani (Twala 75’), Bienvenu Tipa, David Mathebula, Benedict Vilakazi (Ramulondi 38’), Vusiwe Masondo (Phiri 49’) - Mpho Maleka
Celtic: Patrick Tginyemb - Thabo Nthethe Eric Mathoho, Gary Goldstone, Prince Hlela - Thokozani Mshengu (Olomu 77’), Denis Kalala (Kerspuy 60’), Hlompho Kekana, Clifford Mulenga - Moses Spandeel, Siphelele Mthembu (Bacela 71’).
