Kaizer Chiefs extended their winless run in the Absa Premiership to five matches after suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bloemfontein Celtic.
Amakhosi brought in six new faces to the line-up, with goalkeeper Bruce Bvuma preferred in goal while Lorenzo Gordinho got a rare start among the adjustments.
Phunya Sele Sele settled the better of the two sides in the early stages and came close to scoring inside the opening 15 minute through Menzi Masuku’s header before Kabelo Dlamini went close with an effort from distance.
However, Ndumiso Mabena broke the deadlock for Celtic in the 23rd minute with a well executed free-kick from the edge of the box that beat Bvuma at his near post.
Chiefs were struggling to find their rhythm going forward after the half-hour mark and they hardly threatened goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb, with the visitors letting themselves down in the final third.
Chiefs were struggling to build momentum in the second half, even with the arrival of Andriamirado Andrianarimanana and Siphosakhe Ntiya-Ntiya at the start of the stanza.
However, the visitors were slightly finding headway going forward with 20 minutes remaining and Middendorp played his last card 15 minutes before time as attacking midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase came on for Willard Katsande to try and open up the Celtic defence.
Ntshangase almost made an immediate impact as his low corner eight minutes before time found Bernard Parker free in the centre of the box but the experienced striker could only guide his effort agonisingly wide.
Siwelele were defending in numbers in the closing stages and the match was on the edge as they were also threatening on counter-attacks with Chiefs desperate for the equaliser and Neo Maema went clear in stoppages but struck his effort wide with only Bvuma to beat. Anyhow Celtic held on to a 1-0 victory that moved them to the top eight, with 37 points just a point behind seventh place Amakhosi.
Teams:
Celtic: Tignyemb, Rikhotso, Sam, Mahashe, Baloyi, Maema, Mabena, Letlabika, Dlamini, Masuku, Phalane.
Subs: Chaine, Pfumbidzai, De Jongh, Potsane, Mabaso, Maloisane, Ndou.
Chiefs: Bvuma, Mphahlele Hadebe, Cardoso, Gordinho, Katsande, Zulu, Maluleka, Zuma, Mahlasela, Parker.
Subs: Akpeyi, Booysen, Frosler,Ntiya-Ntiya, Adrianarimanana, Ntshangase, Moon.
