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Bloemfontein - Moeketsi Sekola has bagged the all-important goal as Free Stars made it five on the bounce with a 1-0 triumph over Bloemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium on Wednesday night.
With their safety already secured in their previous match Ea Lla Koto went into this clash with the pressure well and truly off their shoulders, while Celtic were aiming to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat to Ajax Cape Town.
However, it was Sekola who had the last say, slotting home what would turn out to be the winning goal in the 35th minute.
The hosts started brightly and created two good chances to claim the lead in the opening ten minutes of play. Both chances went to waste as Stars goalkeeper Daouda Diakite denied Gabadinho Mhango on four minutes, before keeping out an eighth-minute effort from Musa Nyatama.
Following a lull in play, Kinnah Phiri's men broke the deadlock with virtually their first real effort on goal. The in-form Sekola was at it again, converting a right-footed shot after latching on to a pass from Thabo Moloi.
Celtic could have levelled the scores four minutes later, but Mhango was unable to direct his shot on target direct from a free-kick.
The second half saw an increase in goal-scoring chances, but neither side was able to find the cutting edge in front of goal.
Nyatama was again denied by Diakite at the start of the second half, while at the opposite end of the pitch, Sekola nodded over from Moloi's inviting cross.
Just moments later, Danny Venter fired over the crossbar as Stars continued to push for a second.
Celtic, meanwhile, had chances of their own. Thapelo Morena saw his cross-shot fly wide of the left-hand post in the 65th minute and Alfred Ndengane headed over as the second stanza wore on.
It was Free State Stars who finished strongly, though, as Daniel Cardoso and Sekola both went close to adding to the visitors' advantage.
Scorer:
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Free State Stars (1) 1 (Sekola 36’)
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