/ 11 May 2013

Free State Stars fail to shine after Celtic draw

Joel Mogorosi.
Joel Mogorosi.

The sides drew 2-2 on Saturday in a poorly attended fixture, which saw referee Jerome Damon booking seven players.

Celtic's goals came from in-form midfielder Joel Mogorosi, who scored a brace in the first stanza, and Ea Lla Koto's goals were netted by defender Sadate Auro-Akoriko and Danny Venter.

Celtic piled on the pressure in search for a goal and Botswana international Mogorosi opened their account in the fourth minute after rounding Stars goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene to slot into an empty net.

Stars raised their game and equalised through a powerful header by Auro-Akoriko, who connected with a free kick from Dove Wome.

In the 34th minute, Ea Lla Koto almost took the lead via Wome but his thunderous shot was parried for a corner by Celtic keeper Patrick Tignyemb.

Stars went to sleep
Stars then went to sleep and Mogorosi punished them, grabbing his brace in the 36th minute to make it 2-1. The Phunya Selesele winger beat Kennedy Mweene with a grass cutter after a brilliant pass from Lennox Bacela.

Celtic continued stalking the Stars goal and were almost rewarded shortly before the interval, but Bacela failed to convert with Mweene left stranded.

Stars, who introduced Coldrin Coetzee and Anver Esterhuizen at the start of the second period, were business-like for the better part, creating a number of scoring chances.

Midfielder Danny Venter levelled matters in 68th minute, beating Tignyemb at the near post after dribbling past the defence.

Two minutes later Celtic almost took the lead but were denied by Mweene who pulled off a splendid save to deny Vuyani Tanga. – Sapa