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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town made it a night to remember at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday when they beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in their season-opener.
Celtic had to make do with scraps in the first half as the Urban Warriors came out firing on all cylinders and kept the visitors pinned back in their own half, defending desperately at times.
Ajax's storming start was underlined in the seventh minute when Terror Fanteni found space in the box to shoot, sending a hooked effort just wide.
A minute later Ajax caught out Celtic with a devastating counter attack, but it did not lead to a goal, thanks to some desperate cover defence by the Free State side which saw Sameehg Doutie's shot blocked.
Celtic had a chance through a Nathan Paulse header, but it lacked power and the home side were soon back in attack, wave upon wave raining down on Phunya Sele Sele.
Serero squandered a great chance when he poked the ball the wrong side of the upright in the 30th minute, while Fanteni and Lebogang Manyama also wasted opportunities.
But in the 34th minute it was one - nil to the Urban Warriors as Serero latched onto to Paulse's clearance, controlling the ball neatly and then sending a blistering drive into the bottom corner of the net.
The hosts maintained their momentum for the remainder of the half, but could not add a further goal, despite the efforts of Doutie down the right.
The Free State side, coached by Clinton Larson, looked more purposeful after the break.
But it was only for a short period as Ajax soon began to gain the upper hand again - Granwald Scott and Manyama both failed to make use of chances to increase the lead, while Serero and Fanteni looked a dangerous combination throughout and posed numerous problems to Celtic.
Celtic though could well have levelled matters midway through the stanzas when Moses Spandeel let rip with a thunderous first time volley - it looked destined for the top corner until Hans Vonk miraculously made an intervention.
With 10 minuets to go there wasn't much Vonk could do when he found Paulse bearing down on him, but the former Ajax marksman could not make use of the opportunity, sending the ball over the bar.
Phunya Sele Sele's misery was compounded in injury time when Brett Evans made it 2-0, scoring from the spot after Thabo Nthethe had fouled the energetic and impressive Serero.
Celtic had to make do with scraps in the first half as the Urban Warriors came out firing on all cylinders and kept the visitors pinned back in their own half, defending desperately at times.
Ajax's storming start was underlined in the seventh minute when Terror Fanteni found space in the box to shoot, sending a hooked effort just wide.
A minute later Ajax caught out Celtic with a devastating counter attack, but it did not lead to a goal, thanks to some desperate cover defence by the Free State side which saw Sameehg Doutie's shot blocked.
Celtic had a chance through a Nathan Paulse header, but it lacked power and the home side were soon back in attack, wave upon wave raining down on Phunya Sele Sele.
Serero squandered a great chance when he poked the ball the wrong side of the upright in the 30th minute, while Fanteni and Lebogang Manyama also wasted opportunities.
But in the 34th minute it was one - nil to the Urban Warriors as Serero latched onto to Paulse's clearance, controlling the ball neatly and then sending a blistering drive into the bottom corner of the net.
The hosts maintained their momentum for the remainder of the half, but could not add a further goal, despite the efforts of Doutie down the right.
The Free State side, coached by Clinton Larson, looked more purposeful after the break.
But it was only for a short period as Ajax soon began to gain the upper hand again - Granwald Scott and Manyama both failed to make use of chances to increase the lead, while Serero and Fanteni looked a dangerous combination throughout and posed numerous problems to Celtic.
Celtic though could well have levelled matters midway through the stanzas when Moses Spandeel let rip with a thunderous first time volley - it looked destined for the top corner until Hans Vonk miraculously made an intervention.
With 10 minuets to go there wasn't much Vonk could do when he found Paulse bearing down on him, but the former Ajax marksman could not make use of the opportunity, sending the ball over the bar.
Phunya Sele Sele's misery was compounded in injury time when Brett Evans made it 2-0, scoring from the spot after Thabo Nthethe had fouled the energetic and impressive Serero.
