Celtic and Leopards share spoils

Bloemfontein Celtic and Black Leopards earned a point each when their Absa Premiership clash ended in a 1-1 draw at the Free State Stadium on Wednesday night.

Lerato Manzini opened the scoring midway through the first half, before captain Mongezi Bobe replied for Leopards.

The visitors had an early chance to take the lead in the 11th minute when Joshua Obaje went on a great run on the left before finding Thomas Madimba inside the box, but he fired wide of goal.

However, it was the home side who broke the deadlock in the 28th minute after Posnet Omony did well to block a header from Manzini, but the striker managed to tuck the ball in from the rebound, 1-0.

Lidoda Duvha didn’t take long to get back into the game as they leveled matters four minutes later through captain Bobe, who drilled an unstoppable shot into the back of the net from just outside the penalty area, 1-1.

Celtic could’ve regained the lead two minute before the break when Joel Mogorosi delivered a telling cross to find substitute Jacky Motshegwa inside the box, but his first shot was blocked while his second attempt went over the crossbar.

Then six minutes into the second half it was the away side who came close to scoring their second goal of the match, but Brian Amidu’s shot produced a brilliant save from Patrick Tignyemb.

Siwelele had an early chance of their own in the 54th minute when Mogorosi met a well-taken corner from Lyle Lakay, but he directed his header wide of goal.

With a quarter of an hour left on the clock, it was Mogorosi yet again who threatened to separate the two sides, but his shot was saved by Omony.

Then in the 88th minute Johannes Motlhaping came close to scoring what would’ve been the winner for his side, but his header grazed the upright with the goalkeeper well-beaten.

The result leaves Celtic in seventh place with 21 points, while Leopards are in 12th place with 17 points.

Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 (Manzini 28’)

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Mahoa, Nthethe, Motlhaping, Lakay (Gamildien 68’), Mogorosi, Duiker, Arwuah (Motshegwa 32’), Bacela (Lentjies 83’), Manzini, Leonard

Black Leopards: Omony, Xakane (Ntshingila 73’), Khoza, Nyirenda, Mugananga, Bobe, Madimba, Obaje, Amidu (Monama 59’), Manaka (Mabusela 89’), Dzaga

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