Bloemfontein Celtic maintained their unbeaten run in their own backyard after playing to a 1-1 draw with Orlando Pirates in the Absa Premiership encounter played at a jam packed Seisa Ramabodu Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The first stanza of the encounter was evenly balanced with both sides creating scoring chances which were squandered by the strikers.
As early as in the sixth minute Celtic’s lanky defender Mulomowandau Mthoho took a powerful left-footed shot but went sent it wide.
In the 11th minute Pirates’ Ruben Cloete’s powerful shot was parried by Siwelele keeper Patrick Tignyemb.
In the 16th minute Danny Venter made a cross that was parried into play by Bucs keeper Senzo Meyiwa.
Andile Jali orchestrated beautiful moves in the middle of the park but the strikers were firing blanks.
Towards the end of the first half Celtic nearly took the lead when — with only Meyiwa to beat — Luyanda Bacela’s shot went wide.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with both sides searching for a goal.
Coach Rudi Krol introduced ex-Celtic midfielder Mark Mayambela and his introduction paid dividends as he exerted more pressure on the Celtic defenders, forcing them to defend in numbers. Pirates were rewarded in the 71st minute, when he scored.
Ex-Pirates striker Siphelele Mthembu equalised for Celtic in the 82nd minute after receiving a cross from Bennette Chenene.
Mthembu made no mistake and easily tapped in the cross to level the score line. – Sapa