Absa Premiership
Result: Bloemfontein Celtic 0-0 Cape Town City
Date: 27 November 2019
Venue: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium
Bloemfontein Celtic and Cape Town City had to settle for a share of the spoils in the Absa Premiership on Wednesday evening.
New Citizens coach Jan Olde Riekerink made five changes to the side that lost to Black Leopards before the FIFA break, with Ebrahim Seedat, Roland Putsche, Fagrie Lakay, Shane Roberts and Zukile Kewuti coming to the fold.
On the other hand, Siwelele made only one change from their 2-2 draw with Maritzburg United, as Mzwanele Mahashe took the place of Thato Lingwati.
Riekerink was making his first appearance on the bench for the City after watching the team's last two matches in the stand while he was still waiting for his work permit.
The sides were not creating chances clear chances in the first stanza, with lack of finishing touches reducing the game to a scrappy affair and they headed to the break without goals.
Riekerink gave Mark Mayambela a chance to fashion chances for his side on the hour-mark in a tactical switch that saw striker Roberts make way and Siphelele Mthembu replaced Fagrie Lakay ten minutes later but they just could not bring clear openings for the Citizens.
Lehlohonolo Seema tried his luck off the bench by introducing Neo Maema in place of Given Mashikinya to add numbers in attack in the last 17 minutes while Andile Fikizolo came on in place of Sera Motebang in a straight swap upfront but they too fired blanks.
The Citizens had goalkeeper Sage Stephens to thank in the latter stages of the half as he produced two vital saves in the final 10 minutes to secure a point for the visitors.
As a result, the Citizens are left lying in 11th place with 12 points, just a point above the drop zone while Celtic moved up to eighth with 14 points.
Here's how they line up:
Celtic: 16. Mabokgwane, 18. Mashikinya, 26. Ngobeni, 3. Mahashe, 10. Mabena, 8. Phalane, 35. Baloyi, 15. Pfumbidzai, 50. Masuku, 13. Luthuli, 9. Sera.
Subs: 32. Mpoto, 19. Matjila, 34. Fikizolo, 2. Tani, 28. Khasipe, 12. Maema, 20. De Jongh.
City: 16. Stephens, 2. Mkhize, 12. Fielies, 5. Edmilson, 6. Seedat, 19. Putsche, 38. Kewuti, 18. Roberts, 17. Norodien, 11. Ralani, 23. Lakay.
Subs: 40. Anderson, 30. Martin, 42. Nyembe, Mayambela, 27. Potouridis, 25. Mthembu, 29. Abrahams.
