Downs gifted away win

15 September 2014 - 02:00 By Mark Gleeson
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Teko Modise of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium on August 13, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Teko Modise of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Absa Premiership match between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium on August 13, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa.

An error in defence cost a 10-man Bloemfontein Celtic the chance to hang on for a draw against champions Mamelodi Sundowns, as they went down by a single goal at the end of a tense and tough tussle yesterday.

Celtic captain Wandisile Letlabika got caught in possession in his own penalty area and then played a shallow back pass to goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb which he could not clear, handing Sundowns a simple tap in as Cuthbert Malajila picked up the loose ball and set up Elias Pelembe for the 74th-minute winner.

It set off an ugly reaction from Tignyemb, who twice shoved his captain as he remonstrated with him in frustration and should have been sent off for an unseemlyincident.

Celtic were already down to 10 men after midfield hardman Alfred Ndengane committed two unnecessary fouls to earn himself an early shower in the 66th minute.

But, despite being a player short, Celtic were still competitive although Sundowns were patently the better team and deserved the three points.

They have now won three of their last four encounters and move to 10 points.

The visitors, who won 4-0 on their last visit to Bloemfontein in October, had several chances to score in the second half, but Tignyemb made several good saves and an effort from Teko Modise looked goal-bound before a deflection stopped it from going into the net.

Celtic had the first set-piece opportunity just outside the Sundowns' box after Musa Nyatama was brought down in the seventh minute, but Keegan Ritchie skied the effort well over.

Sundowns looked the more enterprising, with some slick passing moves, but Celtic's defence held firm, especially Bevan Fransman, who was shown a yellow card he thought unjust.

In the 28th minute, Modise's chipped ball over the Celtic defence was deftly back heeled by Pelembe into the path of striker Malajila, whose blast from close range produced a brilliant save from Tignyemb.

There was a penalty claim by Ramahlwe Mphahlele before the break when he was bundled over by Ritchie, but referee Victor Hlungwani was not convinced.

After the break Pelembe placed a header wide and Modise went wide with a shot from inside the box before the mistake handed Downs their second away win of the season.

  • The other game yesterday saw Chippa United beat Moroka Swallows 2-0 at Dobsonville Stadium. Ugonna Uzochukwu scored the opener for the visitors just after half-time and David Zulu doubled the score in the 73rd minute.
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