A clinical performance from Bloemfontein Celtic saw them beat a wasteful Orlando Pirates side 1-0 in their Absa Premiership encounter at the Free State Rugby Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Pirates were looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season after tasting defeat to Bidvest Wits on Wednesday evening.

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Celtic , on the other hand, were looking to keep their 100% record intact with their third win of the season.

The Buccaneers completed the double over Phunya Sele Sele last season after winning 1-0 in Bloemfontein before a 2-1 victory at the Orlando Stadium.

The Soweto Giants started the game with intent but were struggling to break down Siwelele, who looked threatening on the break.

The home side took a deserved lead with 17 minutes gone. A ball into the box form a corner was met by Alfred Ndengane, his header smashed against the upright before bouncing in the box. Bongani Sam reacted quickest by diving in the air and connecting with an acrobatic overhead kick which flew into the net.

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Milutin Sredojevic’s team went in search of an equaliser but striker Thamsanqa Gabuza missed a golden chance to level the scores.

Pirates were controlling the ball, but Celtic were happy to sit back and kept their shape to take a 1-0 lead into half-time.

The Sea Robbers needed a big half and Sredojevic would have been hoping that his players could find their scoring touch after squandering a number of opportunities so far this season.

Gabuza then missed another glorious chance to level matters. The striker lost his man in the box and was found with a pin-point cross, but the striker could not find the target with his header.

Pirates continued to push forward but were met by some resolute defending from a team that were yet to concede a goal in the Absa Premiership this season.

Celtic, however, managed to hold on for the three points after surviving a late period of pressure from the Buccaneers.

Phunya Sele Sele go joint top of the Absa Premiership, while its back to the drawing board for Sredojevic and Pirates who failed to score for the second game running.

Photo: Frikkie Kapp/BackpagePix