Bloemfontein Celtic denied Moroka Swallows the chance to reach third spot in the DStv Premiership after they played a 1-1 draw on Tuesday evening.
The home side Celtic made two changes, as shot-stopper Sipho Chaine and Given Mashikinya were listed for action while Swallows’ top scorer Ruzaigh Gamildien made a return for his side.
High-flyers Swallows sat deep in their half for the opening exchanges of the game at the Dr. Molemela Stadium on Tuesday. Celtic’s Ndumiso Mabena then pulled his hamstring before the half-hour mark and was replaced by Harris Tchilimbou.
The visitors relied on their counter-attacks and Kgaogelo Sekgota could have given them the lead some minutes before the break after latching onto a through ball from Musa Nyatama but his deft chip failed to hit the back of the net.
The match sprung into life in the final ten minutes of the game as John Maduka’s men soon had a chance of their own before the break. Tchilimbou almost bundled a corner in with his shoulder but the effort was cleared by Njabulo Ngcobo on the line.
Upon the resumption of the second stanza, the visitors had more urgency in attack, and pressed high up the pitch. That finally paid off ten minutes after the break when Chaine was forced into making an error and Sekgota fired home from range after intercepting the pass to give his side the lead.
However, Celtic did not waste time in drawing level as Neo Maema’s shot from just inside the box took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Virgil Vries for the game’s second goal at the hour mark.
Brandon Truter made a change after the equalizer, sent on defensive midfielder Sammy Seabi in place of winger Zaphaniah Mbokoma while Maduka also made his own change with Sera Motebang coming on for Menzi Masuku as they searched for the winning goal.
Celtic should have been ahead through Maema again but his effort came off the upright and Lucky Baloyi’s rebound was incredibly saved on the line by the impressive Vries, with his feet.
In the final minutes of the game, Mzwakali was left unmarked at the back of the post but his volley was a scuffed one and the home side survived as they both settled for a draw.
With the result, the Birds stay in fifth place while Celtic remain 11th on the DStv Premiership log.