Nedbank Cup
Quarter-final
Full Time: Maritzburg United 2-1 Bloemfontein Celtic
Date: 18 March 2018
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
Martizburg United progressed to the semi-finals of the Nedbank Cup after beating Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was the perfect start for the Team of Choice, who took the lead in the first minute after Lebohang Maboe worked some space for himself on the edge of the box before firing into the corner of the net, 1-0.
After that, the game fell into a bit of a lull as neither side were able to maintain possession and often gifted the ball back to the opposition with some wayward passing.
The next decent effort on goal only came on the half-hour mark when Alfred Ndengane met a right-sided cross, but his 16-yard effort sailed inches over the crossbar.
Celtic threw numbers forward in the final 10 minutes of the half and came close to scoring in the 42nd minute when Ronald Pfumbidzai unleashed a powerful long-range effort, but his low drive shaved the wrong side of the post.
The half ended 1-0 in favour of Maritzburg.
Celtic continued to pile on the pressure in the second half, but despite all their possession they failed to really create any significant goal scoring chances.
Instead, the visitors wasted possession with woeful passing and poor shooting.
Nonetheless, Celtic pushed forward and were rewarded for their efforts when Jacky Motshegwa scored the equaliser in the 76th minute after a clinical finish following a corner-kick, 1-1.
Celtic's joy, though, only lasted four minutes with Maritzburg re-taking the lead courtesy of a goal scored by Andrea Fileccia after latching onto a pin-point pass from Maboe, 2-1.
The visitors, once again, tried to find their way back into the game, but were unable to penetrate the Maritzburg defence and exited the Nedbank Cup competition.
Here is how they line up.
Maritzburg: 31 Ofori, 6 Tlhone (10 Atouba 82'), 25 Xulu, 25 Shandu, 23 De Reuck, 15 Maboe, 8 Ndlovu, 11 Makaringe, 14 Matima, 9 Fileccia (22 Mokate 92'), 28 Mekoa (36 Kunene 71').
Subs: 1 Mpandle, 12 Van Wyk, 22 Mokate, 29 McDonald, 18 Eksteen, 10 Atouba, 36 Kunene.
Celtic: 34 Dambe, 3 Pfumbidzai, 25 Rikhotso, 27 Ndengane, 22 Gordinho, 26 Lubisi (33 Motshegwa 56'), 4 Dlamini, 35 Baloyi (55 Mabasa 83'), 7 Hotto, 6 Maruping, 45 Nyundu (10 Mabena 53').
Subs: 30 Tignyemb, 23 Shikweni, 55 Mabasa, 33 Motshegwa, 10 Mabena, 24 Maema, 13 Letsoalo.
