Pedro shines on debut as Blues grab first win
BLOEMFONTEIN: Bloemfontein Celtic and Platinum Stars played to a 1-1 draw in their PSL Absa Premiership match at the Free State Stadium here yesterday.
The result means that both teams were still left searching for their first victories of the Premiership season.
It was Siwelele’s first point of the season, while Dikwena claimed a second successive draw.
Bloemfontein Celtic had to play the last 10 minutes with only 10 men after Bevan Fransman suffered a head injury and by that time coach Clinton Larsen had already made three substitutions. Fransman was taken to hospital for precautionary tests.
After a somewhat subdued start to the match, Lyle Lakay gave the home the lead in the 33rd minute with his first league goal for Celtic.
He fired a 20-yard free-kick into the corner of the net.
Just prior to this goal, Celtic’s new signing Helder Pelembe struck the crossbar with a shot fired from just outside the Stars penalty area.
After starting the second half at high pace, Stars grabbed the equaliser through Sibusiso Msomi in the 50th minute.
His long-range strike deflected off a defender before hitting the back of the net.
Phunya Sele Sele responded by pushing forward and some slick work by substitute Musa Nyatama saw him dribble his way into the box, but was brilliantly denied oneon-one by Dikwena goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela.
Both teams continue to languish at the foot end of the Premiership table.
Meanwhile, PSL newcomers Jomo Cosmos collected their second point of the season as they held Golden Arrows to a goalless draw at Olen Park yesterday.
Golden Arrows will look back at a match in which they squandered several chances to seal a winning result, while Cosmos will thank their goalkeeper Sherwyn Naicker for keeping a clean slate.
Despite their wayward ways in front of goal, Abafana Bes’thende managed to rifle the odd shot on target but Naicker was equal to the task.
The Joburg side almost went in front against the run of play around the 70th minute when Pentjie Zulu hit a first-time volley from the edge of the box, but the attempt was flashed fractionally wide of the goal.
Shaun Bartlett’s Arrows side nearly snatched a result in the closing stages, but the woodwork came to the hosts’ rescue, with Mabhuti Khenyeza seeing his shot come back off the upright.
An interesting inclusion in the Durbanites’ side was Bidvest Wits striker striker Ryan Chapman who is there on loan. The team of Jomo Sono,
are now still without a win after two games in the new season, while Arrows are in a four-way tie at the top of the Premiership standings. – ANA LONDON: Pedro scored a debut goal as champions Chelsea got their stuttering Premier League campaign off the ground with an entertaining 3-2 victory against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns yesterday.
Chelsea, who had taken one point from their opening two matches, were indebted to Thibaut Courtois who saved James Morrison’s early penalty before Pedro, signed last week from Barcelona, poked home in the 20th minute.
Diego Costa converted Pedro’s shot in the 30th minute, Morrison atoned for his earlier penalty miss to pull a goal back five minutes later before Cesar Azpilicueta restored Chelsea’s two-goal cushion in the 42nd minute.
John Terry, who was substituted for the first time ever under Jose Mourinho during last week’s loss to Manchester City, was dismissed for bringing down Salomon Rondon and though Morrison added his second, Chelsea held on to register their first victory of the season.
“He’s (Pedro) Fantastic,” Chelsea star Cesc Fabregas told Sky Sports. “I knew straight away he would make an impact on this team because it was something we did not have.
“A pacy player that could go behind defenders, can dribble, can go one-against-one and stretches teams. I knew straight away the mentality of this guy is fantastic and I’m very happy for him.”
Following their poor start to the season Chelsea started nervously and seemed destined to fall behind when Nemanja Matic brought down Callum McManaman. But Morrison’s penalty, straight down the middle, was saved by the returning Courtois.
Sparked by that early scare Chelsea settled into their passing rhythm with Eden Hazard linking up with Pedro before the Spaniard squirmed a shot inside the post.
Pedro was then the architect of the second with his angled shot turned in by Costa 10 minutes later.
Morrison fired home through a melee of bodies to halt Chelsea’s momentum before Azpilicueta netted his first Premier League goal three minutes before half-time.
After the break Chelsea captain Terry ended a forgettable week with a red card after he brought down the Baggies’ record signing Rondon as he surged clear.
Without their defensive lynchpin Chelsea were vulnerable and Morrison guided a header past Courtois five minutes later to set up a tense final 30 minutes.
Thereafter the hosts laid siege to Chelsea’s goal but the champions held firm and even had chances to win it themselves through Costa, Hazard and substitute Radamel Falcao.
Meanwhile, Manchester City maintained their perfect start to the campaign against previously unbeaten Everton at Goodison Park to move top of the table on nine points ahead of Leicester City and Manchester United who have seven after three games.
City defender Aleksandar Kolarov opened the scoring on the hour before substitute Samir Nasri collected a deft pass from Yaya Toure to clip a sublime finish past goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 88th to win 2-0.
Southampton, yet to win this season, were held to a goalless draw at promoted Watford, who have now drawn all three matches this season. – Reuters