SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic were forced to share the spoils after playing out to a 0-0 draw at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Wednesday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.
Supersport came into this encounter without several players through injury, including Morgan Gould, Clayton Daniels, Onismor Bhasera, Dean Furman, Thabo Mnyamane and Bradley Grobler.
Meanwhile, former Ubuntu Cape Town youth player Luke Fleurs made his debut SuperSport encounter in the center of defence, replacing the injured Daniels.
The visitors got off to a good start and had the first chance of the game as Ndumiso Mabena beat Fleurs in the air before Kabelo Dlamini ran on to the loose ball and fired his effort high and wide from a narrow angle.
Aubrey Modiba had a chance to put his side ahead in the 13th minute when he robbed a Celtic defender in the box, but Lorenzo Gordinho threw himself in the way to block his shot.
SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams came to his side’s rescue five minutes later after he produced a fine save to deny Mabena’s goal-bound effort.
Celtic nearly broke the deadlock when Bongani Sam delivered a deep cross into the path of Khethokwakhe Masuku, but Williams tipped his effort over the target.
The home side maintained their dominance as the game went on, but SuperSport threatened on the counter as Fagrie Lakay sent a wild effort off target from distance.
However, the game went into the half-time interval locked at 0-0.
Supersport started the second half better than they did the first after switching from 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 formation.
Tshegofatso Mabaso should have found the back of the net after 55 minutes when he received a cut back from Grant Kekana before blazing his effort over the crossbar.
At the other end, SuperSport had a chance of their own when Bongani Khumalo latched on to a free kick from Modiba before he headed his effort wide of the target.
Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb was called into action in the 72nd minute when he made a double save to deny Modiba and Phumlani Ntshangase’s attempts at goal.
James Keene made his way through on goal in the 81st minute when he forced Tignyemb into making a great save, but the English striker was flagged offside.
Lantshane Phalane tried a shot from distance eight minutes later, but the midfielder fired his effort wide of goal.
Mabena came close to putting the game to bed in stoppage time, but the Celtic attacker blazed his shot wide of the post.
Neither side were able to find the winning goal in the closing stages of the game as the match ended goalless at the Dr Molemela Stadium.
Bloemfontein Celtic Starting XI: Tignyemb, Letlabika, Sam, Rikhotso, Mabena, Mashikinya, Masuku, Gordinho, Dlamini, Phalane, Mabasa.
Subs: Dambe, Pfumbiza, Potsane, Maema, Mangweni, Baloyi, De Jongh.
SuperSport United Starting XI: Williams, Boateng, Fleurs , Khumalo, Kekana, Mokoena, Ntshangase, Rusike, Modiba, Lakay, Keene.
Subs: Pule, Letsholonyane, Lungu, Mbule, Webber, Mahlatsi, Phala.
