Bloemfontein Celtic maintained their unbeaten record in the 2009/10 Absa Premiership with their dramatic victory over arch-rivals Kaizer Chiefs -raising the pressure on coach Vladimir Vermevovic.
The Free State giants beat struggling 'Amakhosi' 1-0 courtesy
of midfield master Prince Olomu, who scored the all-important goal
in the late stage of the elecrifying encounter played at the
capacity Free State Stadium.
The Nigerian tapped in with ease a brilliant cross from Darrel
Smith ? sending the multitudes of passionate home supporters into
raptures.
Substitute Smith initiated the cross after receiving a visionary
pass from Koloko Mokhethi, who had an outstanding game.
The win was 'Phunya Selesele's first on home soil and the fans
celebrated with style.
The 'Phefeni Glamour Boys' dominated the proceedings in both
halves but failed to make it count as their strikers fired blanks.
Chief culprits were Nkosinate Nhleko, Tshepo Bulu and Josta Dladla,
who missed the target with just Celtic goal-mender Patrick Tignyemb
to beat.
However, it must be noted that this was game of missed
opportunities as Phunya Selesele also squandered golden chances.
Stocky striker Patrick Malokase wasted a gifted scoring chance
in the first stanza when he fired straight in the path of Chiefs
goal-keeper Arthur Bartmant after beating off-side trap.
The experienced keeper blocked the ball to keep a clean sheet
but only until he got beaten by Olomu late in the game.
Chiefs searched for an early goal in the sixth minute, but
Bulu's shot was well blocked by Celtic's keeper Tignyemb.
Later on big-framed striker Sandile Ndlovu shot wide after
receiving a neat pass from Cecil Oerson.
Thabang Rooi, who got booked in the 26th minutes for the foul on
Malokase outside the Chiefs box, was unlucky not score on the
half-hour mark as his header hit the cross-bar with the keeper
beaten.
The ball went back into play and the hosts cleared the danger.