Bloemfontein Celtic 2-2 Kaizer Chiefs: Courageous Siwelele fight back to deny Amakhosi

Kaizer Chiefs let a two-goal slip in their 2-2 draw against Bloemfontein Celtic in a PSL match which was played at Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Amakhosi took a 2-0 goal lead through Happy Mashiane and Erick Mathoho, but Siwelele fought back and scored twice through Neo Maema and Victor Letsoalo. 

Phunya Sele Sele were hoping to snap their four-match winless run in the league having succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) on Wednesday.

Coach John Maduka adopted an attacking approach with Maema, Letsoalo and Ndumiso Mabena all starting as the front three, while Lucky Baloyi and Sifiso Ngobeni operated as wing-backs.

On the other hand, Amakhosi were also looking to bounce back to winning ways having recorded their second defeat in their three league games when they lost 1-0 to Chippa United on Wednesday. 

Mashiane, Kearyn Baccus and Samir Nurkovic were recalled to the starting line-up as coach Gavin Hunt made three changes to the team which faced the Chilli Boys.

Amakhosi started the match like a house on fire as they grabbed two goals within the first 13 minutes of the game which left Phunya Sele Sele rattled.

Happy Mashiane opened the scoring with a wonderful free-kick which beat Celtic goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane hands down at the near post to make it 1-0 to Chiefs just three minutes into the game.

Chiefs were soon 2-0 up when Mathoho headed home from Lebogang Manyama's well-taken free-kick with former Orlando Pirates keeper Mabokgwane rooted to the ground.

However, Amakhosi sat back and tried to defend their two-goal lead and this allowed Phunya Sele Sele attack in numbers and the hosts managed to pull one back.

Maema beat Chiefs goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi to make it 2-1 with Mabena grabbing the assist eight minutes before the half-hour mark and Maduka's charges pushed for the equalizing goal.

Akpeyi made two fine saves to deny Mabena and Letsoalo to ensure that the first-half ended with Chiefs leading 2-1, but the Nigerian keeper picked up an injury while making the last save.

Bruce Bvuma replaced an injured Akpeyi prior to the start of the second half and Celtic piled pressure on the Chiefs defence which saw Siyabonga Ngezana concede a penalty after fouling Tebogo Potsane in the box.

Letsoalo made no mistake from the spot-kick as beat Bvuma to make it 2-2 as Phunya Sele Sele completed their comeback six minutes before the hour-mark.

It was then end-to-end stuff as Celtic defender Justice Chabalala gave possession near the hosts' box and Dumisani Zuma pounced, but the Chiefs forward placed his effort wide of the target with Mabokgwane rooted to the ground.

At the other end, Ngobeni made a powerful overlapping run in the left flank and he unleashed a powerful shot which was well-saved by Bvuma as Celtic looked to take the lead for the first time.

However, the tempo of the match went down towards the end of the game and the two teams were also giving possession away cheaply in the final third, and ultimately, the encounter ended in a 2-2 draw. 

The result saw Celtic remain 11th on the league standings, while Chiefs also remained ninth on the log - three points behind eighth-placed TS Galaxy.

Celtic will now take on Cape Town City on April 12 and Chiefs are scheduled to face on Tshakhuma on Tuesday.