Celtic beat Chiefs to win Macufe Cup

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Harris Tchilimbou of Bloemfontein Celtic and Ramahlwe Mphahlele of Kaizer Chiefs

Kaizer Chiefs failed to pick up their second piece of silverware for the weekend as they suffered a 2-0 loss to Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2019 Macufe Cup on Sunday.

Amakhosi came into the game on a high after Saturdays 4-2 win over Mameldoi Sundowns in the Shell Helix Ultra Cup.

Due to the short turnaround Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp decided to ring the changes as the likes of James Kotei, Siphelele Ntshangase, Khotso Moleko and others all being drafted into the starting XI.

Celtic, however, came into the game looking to build confidence for next weekend’s Telkom Knockout round of 16 encounter against Chippa United by naming a near full strength team.

Celtic may have looked more in control in the opening stages, but it was the Glamour Boys who came close to opening the scoring when Dumisani Zuma dribbled past a number of defenders before firing wide.

Chiefs continued to threaten and should have taken the lead soon after when Sipho Chaine denied Ntshangase in a one-on-one before Zuma missed the target with the rebound with the goal gaping

The home side made the Soweto giants pay for their wastefulness just before the break as Thato Lingwati rose highest from a corner before nodding past Bruce Bvuma from close range.

1-0 to Celtic at the break with the game still wide open.

The home side picked up where they left off in the first half as they almost doubled their lead soon after the restart but Bvuma was on hand to deny Ndumiso Mabena at the near post.

Ntshangase then missed another golden chance in the 66th minute as he fired wide from close range, the midfielder who has struggled for game time was having a difficult afternoon.

Chiefs continued to push forward in search of an equaliser, but it was the home side who scored the next goal as Bvuma failed to hold Lantshane Phalane’s free-kick with the rebound falling into the path of Tumiso Mogakwe who made no mistake from close range on 76 minutes.

Amakhosi could not find a way back into the game as Celtic held on for an impressive 2-0 win.