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Cape Town - Bloemfontein Celtic stunned Golden Arrows to run out 2-0 victors in their Absa Premiership clash at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday.
Bloemfontein Celtic acclimatised quicker on an unusually cold evening in KwaMashu. By the 10th minute, they started to control possession with Golden Arrows looking out of sorts on their home patch.
Siwelele's early running almost saw them take the lead in the 18th minute. The ball fell kindly for Tshegofatso Mabasa from a corner and he lashed a shot against the woodwork and away from danger.
Abafana Bes'thende were looking rattled and the visitors made the most of their ascendancy four minutes later. They launched a quick counter-attack through Mabasa, who exchanged passes with Ndumiso Mabena before calmly dinking the ball over the onrushing Nkosi Gumede to open the scoring.
Clinton Larsen's troops threatened with a Lerato Lamola shot two minutes later, but Patrick Tignyemb gobbled up the ball with ease.
Celtic could have doubled their advantage just before the half-hour mark. Mabasa was again involed, this time he set up Lantshene Palane, who lacked composure and blazed over the bar.
Phunya Sele Sele began the second stanza exactly where the left off in the first, and extending their lead on 50 minutes. Arrows threw players forward from the get-go and were caught out again on the counter. This time Kabelo Dlamini ran clear and calmly slotted past Gumede.
It was a goal which allowed Celtic to take their foot of the gas a little. The hosts started to grow in confidence but had to wait until the 70th minute for a decent opening. Lamola ran down the left wing with pace, cut into the box and fired a shot across goal and wide.
Celtic were resolute in defence, although they survived a scare with two minutes left on the clock. Siboniso Conco, Siyanda Zwane and Danny Phiri all combined well, but just as the latter was about to strike, the visiting defence managed to clear the ball.
