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Cape Town - Bloemfontein Celtic bounced back to winning ways when they humbled Absa Premiership log leaders Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday night.
Despite the loss, Pitso Mosimane's men remain at the top of the table with 52 points, but second-placed Bidvest Wits narrowed the gap down from seven points to four after their win over Orlando Pirates.
Two first half goals by Lyle Lakay and Abdoul Razak and a second half strike by Lantshene Phalane ensured Serame Letsoaka's men redeemed themselves.
The victory means Siwelele remain placed at position 12 with 25 points, and as early as the first five minutes, Letsoaka's men showed their intentions when Dumisani Zuma broke free and took a shot, but goalkeeper Dennis Onyango made a save.
However, with the Brazilians still trying to settle down, Lakay scored three minutes later when Sundowns lost the ball in the middle of the park. Skipper Thabo Nthethe couldn't clear the ball and Lakay beat the oncoming Onyango easily, making it 1-0.
As Pitso Mosimane's men tried to respond swiftly, Khama Billiat's cross failed to reach Leonardo Castro in the box and Teko Modise also tried a cross in the ninth minute which looked like going in, but Patrick Tignyemb fisted it over for a corner.
As the rain continued to bucket down, Siwelele kept their hosts' defence busy when Thapelo Morena couldn't connect with the ball correctly in the 16th minute.
In the 26th minute, the log leaders received a penalty when Billiat was fouled in the box by Wandisile Letlabika, but Modise missed a chance to level matters as Tignyemb guessed right.
With 10 minutes remaining to the interval, Castro's header went wide as he targeted the near post, and in turn Sundowns gave Zuma more space as he made his run towards the box, but he was let down by his finish.
Nevertheless, Siwelele continued to probe for a second goal and they were rewarded with four minutes to go to the break when Razak got behind the defence and beat Onyango after a sweet pass by Morena.
It was 2-0 at half time, the hosts failed to open the visitors defence, and against the run of play Phalane managed to pounce on a loose ball and unleashed a shot, beating Onyango on his right post making it 3-0 in the 49th minute.
Towards the 60th minute, Hlompho Kekana tried a long range shot but it went wide of Tignyemb's posts after a brilliant lay off by Keagan Dolly from the right flank.
The Brazilians kept chasing a goal and Celtic finally cracked when defender Wayne Arendse converted Kekana's cross with a fine header from the left wing in the 66th minute.
Sundowns dominated the proceedings in the last 15 minutes but Siwelele stood firm at the back. In the dying minutes of the tie, the log leaders suffered a huge blow when Kekana was shown his second yellow card after a foul on Phalane in the middle of the park.
