Macufe Cup
Result: Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 Kaizer Chiefs
Date: 13 October 2019
Venue: Free State Stadium
There were a couple of new faces on display for Kaizer Chiefs, who suffered a 2-0 defeat to Bloemfontein Celtic in the 2019 Macufe Cup on Sunday.
Following Saturday's encounter with Mamelodi Sundowns, Chiefs coach Ernst Middendorp rang the changes for the Sunday, which included a rare appearance for off-season signing James Kotei.
Celtic coach Lehlohonolo Seema, meanwhile, went with the tried and tested formula as they were preparing for next weekend's Telkom Knockout round of 16 encounter against Chippa United.
The home side charges shaded the statistics in the early stages of the encounter, but it was Chiefs who looked more threatening as Dumisani Zuma fired wide after skipping past a couple challenges midway through the half.
The visitors, though, should have been gone ahead soon after but Ntshangase was denied by Sipho Chaine in a one-on-one situation before Zuma fired wide from the rebound with the net gaping.
Chiefs were made to pay just before the halftime break as Celtic broke the deadlock on 41 minutes, with Thato Lingwati nodding past Bruce Bvuma from close range.
The second half continued in similar fashion to the first for Celtic, which nearly resulted in the second goal but Bvuma was on hand to deny Ndumiso Mabena at the near post.
There were certainly a number of Chiefs players who were looking to impress Middendorp in a push for more game time, but Ntshangase certainly dented his chances when he squandered another glorious chance by firing wide with only Chaine to beat on 66 minutes.
That proved to be Nsthangase's final involvement as he made way for Leonardo Castro, while Sabelo Hadebe replaced Kabelo Mahlasela for the final 20 minutes of the half.
However, it was Celtic who got the next goal as Bvuma parried Lantshane Phalane's free-kick into the path of Tumiso Mogakwe who made no mistake from close range on 76 minutes.
Unfortunately for Chiefs, 2-0 was the how encounter as the fail to make it two wins from two friendlies this week.
Here's how they lined up:
Celtic: Chaine, Tani, Ngobeni, Baloyi, Luthuli, Mahashe, Mabena, Phalane, Lingwati, Letsoalo, Tchilimbou. Subs: Phafoli, Fikizolo, Nyamende, Khasipe, Mogakwe, Maema, Kobedi, Sera, Mangweni, Njoti, Letlotlo. Chiefs: Bvuma, Moleko, Mphahlele, Gordinho, Blom, Kotei, Ntshangase, Mahlasela, Parker, Zuma, Twala. Subs: Molefe, Zulu, Sasman, Matsheke, Katsande, Radebe, Lesako, Sifama, Castro.
