Fired-up Celtic hold Amakhosi to a draw

It may have been a goalless draw, but Bloemfontein Celtic and Kaizer Chiefs dished out top-drawer football at Free State Stadium last night.

Spurred on by a big and vocal crowd, Celtic and Chiefs served up a display of quick-passing football.

Amakhosi edged the first half and ended the game very strongly. So they might have felt they could have sneaked a winner.

But a fired-up Celtic produced some fine football, ran hard and spread the ball dangerously when in possession. In the end, Chiefs settled for the draw and extended their unbeaten run to 19 matches.

Amakhosi's lead over second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, who have a game in hand, has now been reduced to 13 points. Celtic had last beaten Chiefs in September 2009 - 12 league and cup matches ago.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter had defensive midfielder Willard Katsande back from injury.

Baxter opted for Brilliant Khuzwayo in goal, with Itumeleng Khune remaining on the bench.

New signing David Zulu was also on the bench.

Chiefs had the best chance in the 10th minute when George Maluleka's volley from the right edge of the area dipped onto the crossbar.

A timely interception by big centre-back Mulomowandau Mathoho denied Celtic's Lerato Lamola in space on the left at the other end. Reneilwe Letsholonyane's skidding shot went a foot wide.

Khanyiso Tshwaku reports that AmaZulu almost salvaged a draw but Kermit Erasmus' stoppage-time goal consigned them to a 2-1 defeat.

Orlando Pirates were the better side on the night, but soft defensive moments were the hosts' downfall in a game of two halves. It was one of those first halves that promised a lot of spicy midfield action but delivered little.

With Robyn Johannes playing in an unfamiliar holding midfield role, it was expected of Orlando Pirates to run rings around AmaZulu, and they did. What Johannes lacked in pace, he made up for it with superb positioning and bone-crunching tackles.

Pirates also dished out their fair share of tackles, but the majority of them were clean, despite some overzealous officiating by the normally consistent Phillip Tinyani.

All eyes were on the obnoxious but highly talented Mbulelo Mabizela and for a change he channelled his arrogance into a committed performance. He capped it with a neatly tucked header in the 67th minute from a superb Marc van Heerden free-kick.

It was not spectacular but it provided the defensive stability Carlington Nyadombo missed for the best part of last year.

This was Pirates' first game in Durban since Senzo Meyiwa's passing in October and they got their money's worth.

Siyabonga Sangweni came closest to breaking the deadlock but his tamely floated header did not trouble Energy Murambadoro.

AmaZulu did not create much chances and when they did, Pirates' offside trap had them in check.

New striker Bonginkosi Ntuli was the common culprit as he did not time his 28th minute short perfectly.

• Sipho Jembula scored in injury-time as Polokwane City made Ajax Cape Town to pay for some wasteful finishing and claimed a 1-1 draw at the Cape Town Stadium last night, writes Nick Said.

Tashreeq Morris had scored a superb goal in the 17th minute for the Urban Warriors.

Supersport United squandered a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Free State Stars at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Atteridgeville, Pretoria.

Platinum Stars and Mpumalanga Black Aces played to a 1-1 draw at Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg.