Bloem Celtic's new signing floors Pirates

27 August 2015 - 02:42 By Sports Reporters

Bloemfontein Celtic sent Orlando Pirates to their second 1-0 Absa Premiership defeat of 2015-2016 with a 1-0 victory at Free State Stadium last night - earning themselves their first win. Flat Pirates could not get into the attacking rhythm needed to dismantle the Celtic defence.Geofrey Massa, before his substitution just before the hour by Lerato Lamola, hustled a Bucs defence that, not for the first time this season, looked stretched keeping the Free State team out.Phunya Sele Sele were the better side, prying the clearer openings. Bucs, instead of finding their form, found themselves increasingly on the back foot as the Celtic fans' singing gained in volume.Pirates could have had a very early goal when Kermit Erasmus's corner looped over everyone to find Ayanda Gcaba free but the left-back's volley was cleared off the line.Massa's trickery set the game alight in the 31st minute, as the Ugandan feigned to shoot then put Ntanga through to tee up Dumisane Zuma to shoot at Siyabonga Mpontshane.Celtic earned the three points via Vuyani Ntanga's goal in the 75th-minute.In Cape Town, Free State Stars' shambolic defending was again on display as they conceded two soft goals to slip to a 2-1 defeat against Ajax Cape Town.Stars were given the lead midway through the first half when Sthembiso Ngcobo took advantage of a poor back pass to score.But that joy was short-lived as Mosa Lebusa and then Prince Nxumalo netted headers from set-pieces to make it back-to-back victories for the Urban Warriors.The Free State club have now lost all three of their PSL fixtures to date and were never in control at the Cape Town Stadium.Ajax piled on the pressure from the start and went close when Toriq Losper's back-heeled effort almost slipped past Daouda Diakite in the visiting goal.Supersport United could not break down the Jomo Cosmos defence, settling for a disappointing goalless draw at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville despite coming into this Absa Premier League encounter as favourites.While this was a frustrating outcome in front of their home crowd for Supersport, Cosmos earned a precious point and are yet to suffer defeat in their return to top-flight.Ezenkosi have their keeper Sherywn Naicker to thank for keeping them in the match with a stunning save in the 86th minute when Jeremy Brockie was sure he had found the back of the net.With the clock winding down and the home side desperate to break the deadlock and take the maximum points, Cosmos left keeper Naicker exposed and faced with deadly forward Brockie.But Brockie, who has recently become the go-to-man for goals at the club, watched in disbelief as Naicker kept the ball out with his feet. Supersport have now failed to keep what had looked like a satisfactory start going following a win against Orlando Pirates in their league opener and a come-from-behind stalemate away to Mpumalanga Black Aces.New Zealand international Kris Bright scored a debut goal for Bidvest Wits and Sibusiso Vilakazi returned to the lineup to add a second as they easily beat Maritzburg United 2-0 at home last night to register a morale- boosting win before the weekend's MTN8 semifinal, second leg.Bright, who only got his work permit on Tuesday, scored after 32 minutes and set up Vilakazi for the second goal early in the second half...

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