Bethlehem - Free State Stars have beaten local rivals Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Ea Lla Koto ended a run of three successive league losses thanks to Tiyani Mabunda’s late strike and move, temporarily at least, to 12th place on the table, just four positions and two points behind Phunya Sele Sele.
After an uneventful first half, Celtic made two changes at the start of the second stanza, with Joel Mogorosi and Lyle Lakay coming on for Dumisani Zuma and Vuyani Ntanga respectively.
Stars soon made a change of their own, with Sydney Masana replacing Andrea Fileccia, and the substitute had a great chance in the 52nd minute, getting on the end of a cross from Danny Venter only to head over the crossbar.
Shortly thereafter Celtic defender Musa Bilankulu had a chance to put his side ahead, but his effort failed to trouble Ea Lla Koto goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali.
On 64 minutes the Bloemfontein side had another opportunity, but Lakay’s shot was brilliantly parried away by Mtshali, while just a minute later Venter blasted wide for the hosts.
Phunya Sele Sele had their last roll of the dice in terms of substitutes when they sent on Malawian striker Frank Mhango with just over 10 minutes to play.
However, it was Stars who stole all three points with a goal in the 86th minute: Tiyani Mabunda got on the end of an assist from Moeketsi Sekola and had the beating of Patrick Tignyemb to score the match winner.
Scorers:
Free State Stars (0) 1 (Mabunda 86’)
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Teams:
Free State Stars: Mtshali, Cardoso, Shabalala, Masehe, Thlone, Venter (Mkhwanazi 88’), Mabunda, Mashego, Fileccia (Masana 51’), Sekola, Henyekane
Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Morena, Bilankulu, Fransman, Cloete, Ndengane, Nyatama, Maasdorp, Zuma (Mogorosi 46’), Ntanga (Lakay 46’), Lamola (Mhango 78’)
Ea Lla Koto ended a run of three successive league losses thanks to Tiyani Mabunda’s late strike and move, temporarily at least, to 12th place on the table, just four positions and two points behind Phunya Sele Sele.
After an uneventful first half, Celtic made two changes at the start of the second stanza, with Joel Mogorosi and Lyle Lakay coming on for Dumisani Zuma and Vuyani Ntanga respectively.
Stars soon made a change of their own, with Sydney Masana replacing Andrea Fileccia, and the substitute had a great chance in the 52nd minute, getting on the end of a cross from Danny Venter only to head over the crossbar.
Shortly thereafter Celtic defender Musa Bilankulu had a chance to put his side ahead, but his effort failed to trouble Ea Lla Koto goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali.
On 64 minutes the Bloemfontein side had another opportunity, but Lakay’s shot was brilliantly parried away by Mtshali, while just a minute later Venter blasted wide for the hosts.
Phunya Sele Sele had their last roll of the dice in terms of substitutes when they sent on Malawian striker Frank Mhango with just over 10 minutes to play.
However, it was Stars who stole all three points with a goal in the 86th minute: Tiyani Mabunda got on the end of an assist from Moeketsi Sekola and had the beating of Patrick Tignyemb to score the match winner.
Scorers:
Free State Stars (0) 1 (Mabunda 86’)
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Teams:
Free State Stars: Mtshali, Cardoso, Shabalala, Masehe, Thlone, Venter (Mkhwanazi 88’), Mabunda, Mashego, Fileccia (Masana 51’), Sekola, Henyekane
Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Morena, Bilankulu, Fransman, Cloete, Ndengane, Nyatama, Maasdorp, Zuma (Mogorosi 46’), Ntanga (Lakay 46’), Lamola (Mhango 78’)