MTN8 Quarterfinal Match Report: Mamelodi Sundowns 1(2)- (4)1 Bloemfontein Celtic 05 August 2015
MTN8 Quarterfinal Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 1 (2)- (4)1 Bloemfontein Celtic Date: 05 August 2015 Venue: Lucas Moripe Stadium Bloemfontein Celtic progressed to the semi-finals of the MTN8 after beating Mamelodi Sundowns 4-2 on penalties on Wednesday evening. The opening exchanges proved to be cagey affair, although Sundowns looked more threatening especially with Anthony Laffor and Mzikayise Mashaba on the flanks. The home side nearly broke the deadlock in the 33rd minute, as Keagan Dolly combined well with Teko Modise, before forcing Patrick Tignyemb into a fine save from the edge of the area. Fiston Abdul Razak should have broken the deadlock a few moments later but the Burundi strike blasted over from 12-yards out, after being teed up Dolly. Celtic, meanwhile, struggled to create openings in the final third, although Lerato Lamola cause a few problems when he was in possession of the ball. Pisto Mosimane's wasted another chance to open the scoring in the 60th minute, as an un-marked Razak managed to head over from six-yards out. The visitors were presented with an opening the 64th when the ball fell for Musa Nyatama on the edge of the area, but the former Sundowns man blazed one over the crossbar. Celtic went even closer moments later when Lamola laid the ball off for Keagan Buchanan, who forced Kennedy Mweene into a fine save. Sundowns continued to pile on the pressure as the half went on and they were nearly rewarded in the 73rd minute but Dolly's curling free-kick crashed against the upright. Tignyemb came to Celtic's rescue in the 84th minute, as he pulled off an excellent save to keep out Cuthber Malajila's towering header. Neither side could break the deadlock in the remaining stages of the half and the game was forced into extra-time. Sundowns eventually got the goal in the 105th minute when Malajila laid the ball across the face of goal for Razak to volley home from six-yards out. Celtic managed to level matters in the 118th minute when Musa Bilankulu lost his marker and headed home Lyle Lakay's cross and send the game into penalties. Clinton Larsen's side managed to hold their nerve to triumph 4-2 in the shootout and secure a spot in the semi-finals. Mbekile and Mweene missed their spot kicks, while Celtic missed none. Here's how they lined up: Mamelodi Sundowns: Mweene, Mbekile, Mashaba, Nthethe, Mphahlele, Kekana, Modise, Langerman, Dolly, Laffor, Razak Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Letlabika, Mogapi, Fransman, Bilankulu, Ndengane, Buchanan, Nyatama, Lamola, Phalane, Morena
