MTN8: Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 SuperSport United (2-1 agg) - Defending champions sent packing

Bloemfontein Celtic produced a solid performance in their 1-0 win over SuperSport United in the MTN8 semi-final second-leg match at Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 

Victor Letsoalo scored the only goal of the match a few minutes after the restart and Phunya Sele Sele will now take part in their second final in 2020 after finishing as runners-up in the Nedbank Cup two months ago. 

Siwelele were coming off a 1-0 defeat to Orlando Pirates in a PSL match on Wednesday, but they had grabbed an away goal in their first-leg clash against SuperSport which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Coach John Maduka recalled the experienced trio of Lucky Baloyi, Ndumiso Mabena and Victor Letsoalo to the starting line-up after they were rested against Pirates as Celtic looked to reach the MTN8 final for the second time.

Meanwhile, Matsatsantsa had secured a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Stellenbosch FC in a PSL match in midweek after they failed to make the most of home ground advantage against Celtic. 

Maduka's counterpart, Kaitabo Tembo, also made several changes as forwards Thamsanqa Gabuza and Grant Lungu made their return to the starting line-up as the defending MTN8 champions looked to advance to the final.

SuperSport threatened first when the ball fell kindly for Jamie Webber in the box, but somehow the South Africa under-23 international placed his effort wide of the target.

Celtic then took control of the match and they should have been awarded a penalty when Mzwanele Mahashe was bluntly fouled by Bradley Grobler in the box, but the match referee brushed off the appeals.

The hosts continued to push forward in search of the opening goal and they came close to scoring when Letsoalo was afforded space down the left-hand side and his curling effort narrowly missed the target.

Grobler and Gabuza cut frustrated figures upfront as there was no supply for the SuperSport centre forwards due to the fact that Celtic were dominating the midfield battle with Baloyi pulling the strings.

The score was 0-0 at the interval following an evenly matched first-half.

The deadlock was finally broken five minutes into second-half after some quick thinking by Given Mashikinya after the hosts were awarded a free-kick in their own half.

The former Cape Town City midfielder quickly played the free-kick upfront for Letsoalo, who outpaced Siyabonga Nhlapo, before firing past onrushing SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to make it 1-0 to Celtic.

Tembo reacted by making a triple substitution as he introduced attackers Iqraam Rayners, Evans Rusike and Kudakwashe Mahachi as the three-time MTN8 champions looked to restore parity.

The momentum was with Matsatsantsa in the closing stages of the match with Gabuza's headed effort being saved by Celtic keeper Jackson Mabokgwane, who also gathered Rayners' scuffed shot.

SuperSport launched late attacks in the closing stages of the match, but they were frustrated by some resolute defending by the hosts and ultimately, Celtic emerged 1-0 winners.

Celtic will now take on either Kaizer Chiefs or Orlando Pirates in the final after winning their semi-final tie 2-1 on aggregate, while the defending champions SuperSport were eliminated from the tournament.