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Cape Town - Bloemfontein Celtic won 1-0 in their Absa Premiership match against Kaizer Chiefs in Saturday's match at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Phunya Sele Sele settled the better of the two teams in the early exchanges and came close to scoring inside the opening 20 minutes through Menzi Masuku's header, yet, Kabelo Dlamini went close with an effort from distance.
With that said, Ndumiso Mabena broke the deadlock for Celtic in the 23rd minute with a well struck free-kick from the edge of the area that beat Bruce Bvuma at his near post.
Chiefs were not getting rhythm going forward after the half-hour mark and they hardly threatened goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb, with the away outfit letting themselves down in final third.
Even with arrival of Andriamirado Andrianarimanana and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya at the start of the stanza fortunes changed little.
Yet, the away side were slightly finding momentum going forward with minutes remaining and Middendorp played his last card 15 minutes before time as attacking midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase came on for Willard Katsande to try and make some attacks happen.
Ntshangase almost made immediate solution as his low corner eight minutes before time found Bernard Parker free in the centre of area but the experienced striker could only guide his effort just wide.
Siwelele were defending in numbers in closing stages and the game was on the edge as they were also threatening on counter-attacks with Chiefs desperate for the leveler.
Neo Maema went clear in injury time but struck his effort wide with only Chiefs goalkeeper Bvuma to beat.
Nonetheless, Celtic held on to a 1-0 triumph that moved them to the top eight, with 37 points just a point behind seventh-placed Chiefs.
