Pogiso Sonoka's solitary strike helped Maritzburg United beat Bloemfontein Celtic 1-0 in an Absa Premiership clash played at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Sunday.

The Team of Choice remain at the bottom of the league standings following their victory, while Phunya Sele Sele also stay in position 12 on the league table.

Lyle Lakay nearly gave Celtic an early lead just four minutes into the game after receiving a good pass from his teammate Lerato Lamola.

However, Belgian goalkeeper Glenn Verbauwhede was well-positioned to make a good save in the Maritzburg goal-posts

Philani Zulu fired the first shot on target for the Team of Choice in the 21st minute which failed to trouble Celtic goalkeeper Patrick Tignyemb.

Ten minutes later, Celtic full-back Thabang Matuka pushed forward and sent in a cross which was cleared by Maritzburg defender Kwanda Mngonyama.

The score was 0-0 during the halftime break - following a quiet first-half on a cloudy afternoon in the City of Bloemfontein.

Team of Choice full-back Zulu tried his luck from range and his attempt was safely held on by former Cameroon under-23 international Tignyemb five minutes into the second-half.

Second-half substitute Vusi Shikwela played a dangerous corner-kick into the Maritzburg box in the 65th minute and Verbauwhede punched the ball away.

At the other end, Brian Onyango took a shot from range and his attempt brilliantly punched away by Phunya Sele Sele shot-stopper Tignyemb.

The opening goal finally came in the 74th minute when Pogiso Sonoka hit the back of the net with a right-footed finish to make it 1-0 to Maritzburg.

Celtic then pressed Maritzburg for equalising goal in the remaining minutes. However, the Team of Choice stood firm at the back and they won 1-0 on the day.

Celtic 0

Celtic XI: Tignyemb, Rikhotso, Lubisi, Lakay, Letlabika, Matuka (Massa 83'), April, Nyatama (Zuma 72'), Morena, Abdoul (Shikweni 63'), Lamola

Maritzburg XI: Verbauwhede, Teyise, Mngonyama, Mogapi (Onyango 59'), Sonoka, Booysen, Zulu, Lentjies (Maasdorp 90'), Mekoa M, Mekoa D, Rusike