Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1 Kaizer Chiefs: Siwelele humble Amakhosi to give Mamelodi Sundowns hope

Bloemfontein Celtic secured an impressive 3-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in a PSL match which was played on Wednesday evening. 

Amakhosi were presented with an opportunity to extend their lead to nine points at the top of the league standings after edging out Polokwane City 3-2 on Saturday.

Coach Ernst Middendorp made four changes to the team which faced Polokwane with Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Bernard Parker, Leonard Castro and Willard Katsande all returning to the starting line-up.

On the other hand, Phunya Sele See were looking to move closer to the top eight on the league standings after drawing 1-1 with SuperSport United on Saturday.

Middendorp's counter-part John Maduka named an attack-minded team with strikers Motebang Sera, Victor Letsoalo and Ndumiso Mabena all starting upfront for Celtic.

Phunya Sele Sele were the better side in the opening stages of the encounter with the hosts' front three, Letsoalo, Mabena and Sera looking lively.

Maduka's men threatened first when Letsoalo unleashed a thunderous effort from range, but Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi produced a fantastic finger-tipping save to deny the frontman.

The visitors grew in confidence as the match progressed and Leonardo Castro forced Celtic shot-stopper Sipho Chaine into a great reflex save with a good header.

Phunya Sele Sele were conceding too many corner-kicks and set-pieces in their own half and they were punished by Amakhosi's towering central defender Eric Mathoho.

The Bafana Bafana international headed home birthday-boy Khama Billiat's corner-kick to make it 1-0 to Chiefs 10 minutes before the half-time break.

However, Middendorp's men went to sleep on the stroke of half-time and they were punished by Sera, who beat Akpeyi with a decent finish and the score was 1-1 at the interval.

Celtic came back brimming with confidence following their half-time team talk with Malawian tactician Maduka.

The hosts took the lead for the first time on the night when Sera completed his brace with a close-range finish to make it 2-1 to Celtic with the Lesotho international netting his sixth league goal of the campaign.

Chiefs then took control of the match with Katsande dictating terms from the middle of the park and he forced Chaine into a magnificent diving save with a long-range effort.

Maduka then made a change pulling out a tired-looking Sera and the retired central midfielder introduced another striker in Harris Tchilumbu as the hosts refreshed their attack.

Phunya Sele Sele looked dangerous every time they pushed forward and they took a two-goal lead when Mabena set-up Letsoalo, who fired past Akpeyi to make it 3-1 to Celtic with 16 minutes left.
 
Amakhosi launched late attacks as they looked to grab at least two goals in order to ensure that the match ended in a draw, but the Siwelele defence stood firm at the back and Chaine was not seriously tested.

Ultimately, the match ended in a 3-1 victory in favour of Celtic, who moved up to the tenth spot on the league standings - a point behind seventh-placed Cape Town City.

Now leaders Chiefs are six points above second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand.