Bloemfontein Celtic collected maximum points in the Absa Premiership for the first time this season when they defeated AmaZulu 2-0 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Wednesday night.

Both goals came in the first half with Lerato Lamola opening the scoring before Frank Mhango doubled the lead close to halftime.

Both sides struggled to settle into a rhythm at the start of the first half and the first shot on target only came in the 14th minute as Goodman Dlamini fired a tame effort straight at Patrick Tignyemb.

Celtic opened the scoring three minutes later as Lamola latched onto a weak backpass from Marc Van Heerden on the right side of the box and went around Tapuwa Kapini before finishing from a tight angle.

The visitors capitalised on another defensive error in the 27th minute as Usuthu lost the ball in their own half, allowing Mhango to race into the box on the left before placing the ball past Kapini and into the back of the net.

Usuthu should have pulled one goal back ten minutes later when Bongani Ndulula was played through on goal by Goodman Dlamini, but Tignyemb pulled off a good save to keep his effort out.

Seconds later Philani Shange went on a solo run from the left flank before curling the ball towards the far post, but Tignyemb was positioned well to make a comfortable save.

Shange thought he deserved a penalty when he felt that he was obstructed by Musa Bilankulu after playing the ball through the defender’s legs on the left side of the box, but the referee waved play on as Celtic took a 2-0 lead to the break.

The second half also started at a slow pace but it was substitute Joel Mogorosi who had a glorious chance to extend Celtic’s lead when he was picked out by Mhango on the right side of the box, only to send his effort wide.

Usuthu also had a good opportunity on the other end two minutes later when Van Heerden released Bornwell Mwape on the left side of the box, but the Zambian was denied by a solid save from Tignyemb at the near post.

Mogorosi had another opportunity to get his name on the scoresheet in the 84th minute when Usuthu failed to clear their lines just outside the box, but his effort curled just over the crossbar.

Usuthu came close to reducing the deficit but Mwape sent his diving header over the crossbar after connecting with a cross from Ruzaigh Gamildien in the 89th minute.

The final chance of the match fell for Goodman Dlamini in added time when he met Gamildien’s corner in the centre of the box, but his header was blocked on the line by Tignyemb as Celtic held on for a 2-0 win.

AmaZulu 0

Teams:

AmaZulu: Kapini, Macala, V Heerden, Nyadombo, Ouro-Akoriko, Madondo (Arwuah 46’), Shabalala (Mwape 61’), Dlamini G, Shange, Liphoko (Gamildien 73’), Ndulula

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb, Fransman, Ndengane, Mogapi, Mzava (Gabonamong 77’), Ritchie (Cloete 54’), Letlabika, Bilankulu, Nyatama, Lamola (Mogorosi 54’), Mhango