The much anticipated encounter between Bloemfontein Celtic and Jomo Cosmos lived up to expectations when the two sides clashed in an Absa Premiership encounter at Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The entertaining match watched by a half-full stadium ended in a 3-all draw.

Both sides meant business from the first whistle, trying to find an early lead, but the home team found the back of the net as early as the seventh minute when striker Tlou Segolela dribbled past three defenders and slotted home past oncoming Ezenkosi goalkeeper Avril Phali.

Three minutes later Prince Olomu should have doubled the lead but Phali managed to parry it away.

Bamuza Sono orchestrated beautiful moves for Cosmos in the middle of the park, feeding Ayo Oluwafemi and the dangerous Sekou Camara, but the Celtic defence was well marshalled by Gary Goldstone and Motsere Motlhaping.

In the 20th minute Cosmos equalised through Sekou Camara when Oluwafeni hit the upright and the rebound was easlily tapped into the empty net by Camara.

Five minutes later reliable Celtic defender Motlhaping was sent off by referee Robert Sithole after a second bookable offence which saw the hosts reduced to 10 men.

In the second half Excellent Walaza beat the offside trap in the 54th minute and laid the ball to Prince Olomu to make it 2-1. Ezenkosi defender Thapelo Tshilo was given marching orders for an off ball incident on Celtic's captain Thabo Nthethe in the 59th minute.

In the 72nd minute Walaza made it 3-1 after receiving a brilliant pass from midfielder Cecil Oersen.

But Cosmos fought gallantly and were rewarded when substitute Siza Dlamini reduced the deficit, unleashing a powerful shot to beat the Celtic keeper and make it 3-2 in the 79th minute.

Ezenkosi levelled terms in the 88th minute through the boot of Sono and the two sides shared the spoils.