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Cape Town - Struggling Polokwane City's woes continued as they succumbed to their seventh straight defeat in the Absa Premiership with a 1-0 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic.
Following a promising start to the season, the wheels have well and truly come off for Polokwane, who have failed to turn things around since the departure of head coach Zlatko Krmpotic.
Krmpotic exited the club after a run of four straight losses, but caretaker coach Bernard Molekwa has now lost three in a row himself as Rise and Shine remain rooted in 10th place on 13 points.
As for Celtic, the valuable away win lifted them into fifth place on the table with 17 points.
The game started with an early chance for Polokwane's Jabulani Maluleke, who let fly with his left boot only to miss the target, before his team-mate Vusimuzi Mngomezulu did the same with his right.
It wasn't all one-way traffic, however, with Celtic also giving a good account of themselves in what was proving to be a tight contest.
While the home side probably shaded the opening period, the first half ended without either side really carving out a solid chance as they went into the break still goalless.
The two teams headed out for the second half determined to pick up the pace, although chances still proved few and far between despite the added intensity.
It seemed as if both sides were going to settle for a tame draw before Victor Letsoalo, who had been brought on by Celtic coach Lehlohonolo Seema at the start of the second half, finally struck the decisive goal of the game in the 82nd minute.
It was quick one two between Letsoalo and Ndumiso Mabena on the edge of the area that allowed the striker to fire past an advancing Cyril Chibwe in the Polokwane goal and give his side the lead.
The home side tried their best to force an equaliser but the Celtic defence held firm as Phunya Sele Sele departed the Pietersburg Stadium with all three points.
- TeamTalk Media
