Celtic pay the penalty

BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic and SuperSport United failed to be separated in an uninspiring 0-0 Absa Premiership draw at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium yesterday.

Khethokwakhe Masuku missed a penalty in the last minute as both teams took a point home with them.

It took just four minutes for the hosts to have an effort at goal. Dumisani Zuma found space and let fly with a shot that went just wide of the right hand post.

In the 12th minute the home team once again threatened Reyaad Pieterse’s goal, this time through a Deon Hotto corner that was well met by Robert Sankara, only for the defender to head over.

In the last minute of the game Celtic had a golden opportunity to win the game when Pieterse brought down Zuma in the box. However, Masuku fired his effort on to the crossbar as the points were shared.

“It happens in football,” said interim Siwelele coach Lehlohonolo Seema. “We’ve been practising penalties and we believed in him. It was unfortunate he missed. But credit to my players for the way they played against a very good SuerSport team. We were unlucky today.”

SuperSport boss Stuart Baxter added: “We weren’t fired up enough. It’s as simple as that. They wanted it more, they had the momentum and they could have won. It was not good enough for us.”

Meanwhile, despite enjoying the better of the chances at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium yesterday, Baroka FC found themselves on the end of a 1-0 Premiership defeat by Maritzburg United.

It was a match the home team would have felt they should have won, having posed far more of a regular goal threat throughout the afternoon, only to lose the game to a Sheldon van Wyk goal midway through the second half.

The first clear-cut chance came after 17 minutes, but Albert Mothupa sent his header straight at Maritzburg keeper Bongani Mpandle, who would go on to be named as Man of the Match; further proof of Baroka’s dominance.

While they had not threatened the home defence much throughout the first hour, Maritzburg showed themselves to be deadly on the break as they took the lead on 67 minutes. A swift counter saw Mohau Mokate play Lebohang Maboe in on goal, and although his shot was saved, Van Wyk tucked home the rebound. – ANA