Bloemfontein Celtic resumed the season with a bang while progressing to the final of the Nedbank Cup following a 3-0 win over Baroka FC on Saturday afternoon.
Read: Celtic eyeing first Nedbank Cup final berth!
Punya Sele Sele head coach John Maduka made six changes bringing in Mzwanele Mahashe, Lantshene Phalane, Wandisile Letlabika, Tebogo Potsane, Menzi Masuku, and Ndumiso Mabena, while Gerald Phiri Junior returned for Baroka.
First half
The opening stanza had Baroka shot-stopper Elvis Chipezeze indecisive as he allowed Mabena in on goal from the far side two minutes in, however, the veteran striker couldn’t profit.
Siwelele player Mpusana Tani suffered a hamstring injury right at the midway stage ending his game rather early and was replaced by former SuperSport United and Golden Arrows man Andile Fikizolo.
Bakgaga Ba Ga Mphahlele was a man down after the half-hour mark after Ananias Gebhardt was given a straight red for a foul on Lucky Baloyi meanwhile Nhlanhla Mgaga eliminated one challenge in the area to bring Sipho Chaine to a save four minutes to halftime.
Siwelele Sa Masele eventually broke the deadlock after Mabena converted Fikizolo’s cutback into the bottom corner with Chipezeze in no man’s land just before the interval.
Second half
The second stanza was rather slow on both sides with a lack of chances at both ends, however, Evidence Makgopa rattled tested the palms of Chaine within the last quarter of the half after latching onto a cut-back from strike-partner Mgaga inside the six-yard area.
With just seven minutes left on the lock, the Mangaung-based were given a penalty by the referee after Chipezeze was deemed to have brought down Mabena in the area, leaving Victor Letsoalo to tuck home in the last seven minutes.
Letsoalo added a cherry to the cream making the result safe in second-half stoppage time after tapping home Chipezeze’s spill to help his side secure the final berth with the last kick of the game.