Celtic upstage Chiefs in Macufe Cup
Bloemfontein Celtic beat Kaizer Chiefs 4-3 to claim this year's Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe) Cup at the Free State Stadium on Sunday.
The result ended Amakhosi's run of seven matches unbeaten. However, Chiefs are still unbeaten in the Premiership.
Celtic's goals came from Jackie Motsegwa, Brent Lawler, Danny Venter and Auguston Leonard while Chiefs' goals were scored by from Kaizer Motaung Jrn, Tumi Moshoabane and Matthew Rusike. They went to the break gridlocked on 1-all.
Chiefs scored in the 22nd minute via Kaizer Motaung Jnr., whose tame shot came off Celtic's defender Johannes Motlhaping who tried to clear a dangerous pass from Siyabonga Nkosi. The goals inspired the Amakhosi to increase the score line but they failed to convert from free-kicks in front of the goals. Celtic rallied to level matters in the 37th minute via Jackie Motsegwa, who fired past Chiefs' debutant keeper Brilliants Khuzwayo.
The second stanza was lively, with the strikers scoring goals. Both sides came back from the break searching for the killer goal. Celtic took the lead in the 50th minute when Lawler beat the keeper with a fine header from a corner kick. Phunya Selesele piled on the pressure, searching for another goal. Danny Venter made it 3-1, in the 57th minute, converting a neat pass from Lyle Lekay.
However, Celtic went to sleep as Amakhosi came back to score twice. Moshoabane reduced the deficit in the 61st with debutant Matthew Rusike levelling matters to make it 3-all two minutes later beating debutant keeper Dino Visser.
Both sides tried hard to break the deadlock, and in the end Leonard made no mistake converting a spot kick in the 77th minute to make it 4-3. Celtic managed to hold on until the final whistle, to emerge winners in front of their home crowd.
