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Celtic claim Urban Warriors' scalp

Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town were unable to record successive wins as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday afternoon.

After feeling each other out in the opening exchanges, Dean Hotto forced Brandon Petersen into a save at his near post on five minutes.

Patrick Tignyemb then saved well to stop Krahire Zakri from tapping home as he looked to connect to a Rodrick Kabwe cross.

Zakri was wide with a 20th minute header although Celtic were largely in control of the tie and so nearly scored through Ndumiso Mabena with 34 minutes on the clock. Petersen though denied Mabena from close range with save that deflected up onto the crossbar.

Roscoe Pietersen made way for Siboniso Gaxa for Ajax as Celtic introduced Victor Letsoalo for Menzi Masuku at half-time as both managers looked to freshen up their sides.

Ronald Pfumbidzai put Celtic in the lead in the 52nd minute with a neat finish at Brandon Petersen's near post after the ball had deflected off Mario Booysen's shin into the goalscorer's path.

Ajax captain Mosa Lebusa was on hand to head clear a dangerous cross from Hotto that was aimed at Jacky Motshegwa as Morne Nel fired a volley off target with 56 minutes played.

Grant Margeman came on for Toriq Losper ahead of a final change for Ajax, with Tendai Ndoro replacing Zakri just after the hour mark.

Lebusa got up well but was unable to head in Kabwe's deep corner, ahead of a quick succession of set-pieces before Ndoro came close to connecting to a Gaxa delivery from the right.

It was all Ajax as they probed for an equaliser, prompting Veselin Jelusic to introduce Kabelo Dlamini for Motshegwa.

Celtic sat deep as they soaked up the late Ajax pressure ahead of a couple of half-chances for the visitors, before Mabena fired just wide after winning possession from a poor clearance.

Booysen was close to equalising as he rose high at the back post with Tignyemb beaten, however, his cushioned header landed on the roof of the net.

Ndoro then really should have scored with a close range header that he put wide after some good approach play as Fagrie Lakay fired over with a fierce drive as the clock struck 90 minutes.

Gaxa had to be alert stop Hotto from tapping home a second after he lobbed the ball over an onrushing Petersen as the tie ultimately ended with Ajax on the backfoot and Celtic claming a deserved three points.

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