Celtic book spot in final after shootout

BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic set up a Telkom Knockout final meeting with Bidvest Wits on December 2 after a 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Polokwane City, following a 1-1 draw at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane yesterday.

After a goalless 90 minutes‚ Jacky Motshegwa had Celtic in front in extra time‚ but Rendani Ndou kept up his fine scoring form with an equaliser to send the game to penalties.

City were behind in the shootout as they missed their second and third spot-kicks‚ and it was left to Tshegofatso Mabasa to fire home the winning kick and send Celtic into the final.

It is bitter disappointment for City‚ who needed penalties to get past Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates in the earlier rounds‚ but found it third time unlucky.

The first half was devoid of clear-cut chances‚ bar a fine opening for Celtic’s Roggert Nyundu.

He looked to have a simplest of tap-ins from a metre out‚ but was put off by a home defender and ended up missing the ball completely.

Walter Musona forced a fine save from Patrick Tignyemb in the Celtic goal when he thundered an effort at goal from 32m‚ but the veteran Cameroon gloveman showed fine reactions to beat the ball away.

Neither side could find a winner in normal time‚ but the visitors grabbed the lead in extra time, as Motshegwa finished a free-kick.

Celtic sat back as they tried to protect their lead‚ but Tignyemb was finally beaten on 115 minutes when Jabu Maluleke’s corner was headed home by Ndou.