University of Pretoria suffered their third consecutive loss of the year when they went down 2-0 at Bloemfontein Celtic on Sunday afternoon in an Absa Premiership match.
Keagan Buchanan and Gabadinho Mhango each scored in the first half at the Free State Stadium for the home side.
Steve Barker’s side had come into this clash on the back of losses to SuperSport United and Maritzburg United.
Celtic threatened early on and were capitalising on the vocal home support, which was evident in the sixth minute after a good move ended with Buchanan unleashing a good firm shot on the edge of the box which was saved by the away side’s keeper Washingston Arubi.
Buchanan was a thorn in the AmaTuks flesh in the first half of the match and showed great skill when he gave his side the lead in the 29th minute for his first ever goal in the top flight. He dribbled past three defenders and then sent a swerving shot from outside the box into bottom-left corner, 1-0.
AmaTuks had not scored a goal away from home his season and that showed as they were not threatening the Celtic defence early on in the match. Their lack of efficiency upfront cost them at the back as they conceded a goal before the interval.
Mhango had been booked seconds earlier but the Malawian recovered psychologically as he was at the right place to finish off a lovely counter attack by the men in the green and white.
With 20 minutes remaining in the match Celtic failed to punish AmaTuks when Lerato Lamola put Arubi under pressure which resulted in his tame kick landing on the path of Joel Mogorosi, but the Celtic attacker failed to score with the keeper off his line as his shot was blocked by a defender.
AmaTuks captain Tebogo Monyai could have given the home fans some nervy final minutes of the match but he found the outside roof of the side netting from a corner kick header as the match finished 2-0 to the home side.
Bloemfontein Celtic (2) 2 (Buchanan 29’, Mhango 45+2’)
University of Pretoria 0
Teams:
Celtic: Tignyemb, Nkausu, Bilankulu, Daniels, Letlabika, Gabonamong, Buchanan (Ndengane 70’), Mahoa, Nyatama, Mogorosi, Mhango (Lamola 56’)
Tuks: Arubi, Ngubane (Mathosi 80’), Monyai, Mkhwanazi, Moussono-Moussono (Mnyamane 55’), Mosadi, Monama (Maruping 60’), Ketjijere, Zwane, Nyondo, Massa – Backpage Media