Result: Bloemfontein Celtic v Maritzburg United
Date: 06 March 2021
Venue: Dr. Petrus Molemela Stadium
Maritzburg United squandered the chance climb up the DStv Premiership table after being held to 1-1 draw by Bloemfontein Celtic on Saturday evening.
Ernst Middendorp recalled Daylon Claasen and Bandile Shandu as Nazeer Allie and Travis Graham dropped to the bench after the midweek win over Black Leopards.
The Team of Choice took the initiative in the early exchanges, with Claasen and Bongokuhle Hlongwane going close with strikes inside the opening 20 minutes.
Celtic were looking to get back on the winning trail, but they were without their talisman upfront Ndumiso Mabena after his sending off against Orlando Pirates on Wednesday.
While the hosts struggled to find an opening in the first half, Maritzburg nearly got the opening goal from one Ray Rae's trademark long throw-ins but Riyaaz Ismail was unable to head past Jackson Mabokgwane.
The Team of Choice did get their reward on the stroke of halftime courtesy of a free-kick from Thabiso Kutumela, who made it two goals in two games.
After not scoring in their last two encounters, Celtic did manage to get their equaliser in the 72nd minute thanks to Menzi Ndwandwe's first goal of the season.
Neither side were able to find a second goal in the latter stages of the second half, altough Maritzburg did finish the game with a man less after Clayton Daniels was given his marching orders late in the game.
Celtic: 16. Mabokgwane, 3. Mahashe, 22. Rikhotso, 33. Chabalala, 35. Baloyi, 25. Ndwandwe, 5. Kobedi, 11. Potsane, 26. Ngobeni, 21. Letsoalo, 12. Maema.
Subs: 32. Mpoto, 42. Ncobeni, 13. Luthuli, 15. Pfumbidzai, 8. Phalane, 17. Mofokeng, 24. Lingwati, 29. Van de Ross, 50. Masuku.
Maritzburg: 31. Engelhardt, 16. Daniels, 25. Ismail, 17. Claasen, 5. Morgan, 26. Shandu, 42. Rae, 11. Tlolane, 7. Meza, 10. Kutumela, 21. Hlongwane
Subs: 30. Mpandle, 19. Hachi, 29. Carnell, 33. Ngwane, 13. Sifama, 20. Moseamedi, 12. Modise, 28. Hlubi, 24. Bhengu.
