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Phokeng - Platinum Stars have kept the heat on the Absa Premiership front-runners with a 2-0 victory over Bloemfontein Celtic at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night.
Goals from Henrico Botes and Robert Ng’ambi earned Dikwena their 11th win of the season and they now trail leaders Orlando Pirates by three points. They have also moved to within two points of second-placed Kaizer Chiefs.
It was another comprehensive home display from Stars, who have now won seven from eight in their own back yard. With struggling Ajax Cape Town arriving on Saturday they will be confident of extending that run too.
Celtic were without new Zimbabwean striker Roderick Mutuma, who is still waiting for his work permit and on the evidence of tonight they could do with his firepower.
Phunya Sele Sele created little in the Stars half and it was the home side who dominated the opportunities.
The home side were ahead on 25 minutes as the impressive Mogakolodi Ngele teed-up Botes inside the penalty area and the Namibian international netted his seventh of the season and fourth in as many games.
Ngele then brought the best out of Tignyemb again with another snap-shot that needed saving, while Botes headed over the bar when he might have at least hit the target.
Celtic skipper Thabo Nthethe had a rare effort on goal for the visitors which was easily dealt with in the Stars goal by Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Dikwena made the points safe with a second goal 11 minutes from time, Ng’ambi with a typically composed finish. Botes headed the ball into his path and the Malawian international applied the finish.
Scorers:
Platinum Stars (1) 2 (Botes 24', Ng’ambi 79)
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Teams:
Stars: Mpontshane, Gumede, Mpeta, Mere, Phala (T Mthembu 84'), Mhlongo, Ng'ambi, Mathe, Malokase (Msomi 80'), Ngele (Mkhabela 57'), Botes
Celtic: Tignyemb, Mahoa, Nthethe, Isaacs, Mzava, Lakay (Leonard 78'), Arwuah, Mogorosi, Lentjies (Ntanga 70'), Manzini, Bacela (Gamildien 66')
Goals from Henrico Botes and Robert Ng’ambi earned Dikwena their 11th win of the season and they now trail leaders Orlando Pirates by three points. They have also moved to within two points of second-placed Kaizer Chiefs.
It was another comprehensive home display from Stars, who have now won seven from eight in their own back yard. With struggling Ajax Cape Town arriving on Saturday they will be confident of extending that run too.
Celtic were without new Zimbabwean striker Roderick Mutuma, who is still waiting for his work permit and on the evidence of tonight they could do with his firepower.
Phunya Sele Sele created little in the Stars half and it was the home side who dominated the opportunities.
The home side were ahead on 25 minutes as the impressive Mogakolodi Ngele teed-up Botes inside the penalty area and the Namibian international netted his seventh of the season and fourth in as many games.
Ngele then brought the best out of Tignyemb again with another snap-shot that needed saving, while Botes headed over the bar when he might have at least hit the target.
Celtic skipper Thabo Nthethe had a rare effort on goal for the visitors which was easily dealt with in the Stars goal by Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Dikwena made the points safe with a second goal 11 minutes from time, Ng’ambi with a typically composed finish. Botes headed the ball into his path and the Malawian international applied the finish.
Scorers:
Platinum Stars (1) 2 (Botes 24', Ng’ambi 79)
Bloemfontein Celtic 0
Teams:
Stars: Mpontshane, Gumede, Mpeta, Mere, Phala (T Mthembu 84'), Mhlongo, Ng'ambi, Mathe, Malokase (Msomi 80'), Ngele (Mkhabela 57'), Botes
Celtic: Tignyemb, Mahoa, Nthethe, Isaacs, Mzava, Lakay (Leonard 78'), Arwuah, Mogorosi, Lentjies (Ntanga 70'), Manzini, Bacela (Gamildien 66')
