Celtic smiles after Charity Cup win
6 August 2007
Kaizer Chiefs' unimpressive pre-season form continued on Saturday as the Amakhosi bowed out at the first hurdle in the Telkom Charity Cup, losing to their archrivals Orlando Pirates on penalties, to suffer their fourth defeat in succession. Bloemfontein Celtic, meanwhile, were left smiling after downing the Buccaneers to claim the silverware.
Chiefs' coach Muhsin Ertugral would, no doubt, be frustrated by his charges' second loss to Pirates in the pre-season, after they created enough good opportunities in their showdown to win, albeit that the Buccaneers looked the better team.
Chiefs vs Pirates
Pirates took the lead after 64 minutes when Chiefs' new signing Moketsi Tsotetsi miscued a clearance and netted an own goal.
Two minutes later, however, the Amakhosi were back on levels terms when Tinashe Nengomasha netted from long distance as his rasping drive took a slight deflection off Lehlohonolo Seema before
finding the bottom left hand corner of the Pirates' goal, with goalkeeper Francis Chansa left with no chance of stopping the shot.
Chiefs had, in the first half, had the best chance of the opening stanza to score after a punch by Chansa found Thuso Phala inside the box, but his shot flew over the bar.
With 13 minutes to go, Pirates could have taken the lead, but Rudzani Ramudzuli fired past the left hand upright after he was picked out inside the area.
Chiefs should have clinched the match after 92 minutes, but David Mathabula, needing only to beat the goalkeeper, made a hash of matters, mis-kicking and shooting wide across goal. That miss proved costly for Chiefs as the match went to penalties.
Chansa, in the Pirates' goal stopped three Amakhosi spot kicks – by Shaun Bartlett, Tinashe Nengomasha and Scara Ngobese – to see the Buccaneers to a 3-1 win in the shootout.
Celtic vs Stars
Earlier, Bloemfontein Celtic had booked
their place in the final with a convincing 3-1 victory over Platinum Stars.
Stars had the opportunity to take an early lead when Celtic netminder Posnett Omony dropped a routine cross. The ball fell invitingly for striker Henrico Botes, but his effort struck the upright and Phunye Cele Cele breathed a sigh of relief.
Less than 10 minutes later, Botes' miss came back to haunt Stars when a defensive slip-up gave Wayne Sandilands the chance for a shot on goal from close range. He found the bottom left hand corner to put Celtic in the lead.
Stars responded well by drawing level through Simba Marumo. Ivan Zwane picked out the striker with a pin-point cross and Marumo outjumped a defender and the goalkeeper to bury the ball in the net.
With halftime approaching, Celtic again edged in front when Lebogang Mothibantwa finished well following a strong run bby Mahlatsi.
Only five minutes into the second half the Bloemfonteiners extended their lead to a comfortable
two goals when a clever dummy by Carlo Scott opened things up for Siphisele Ngobese to score with a curling shot, struck with the outside of the foot.
There were no further goals in the game, but Celtic dominated the proceedings to ensure that they would qualify for the final.
Pirates vs Celtic
In the title decider, Celtic started like a house on fire against Orlando Pirates, forcing Chansa into a series of outstanding saves in the Buccaneers' goal inside the first 10 minutes.
It took 28 minutes, however, before the Bloemfonteiners managed to ply apart the Pirates' defence. Chansa cleared a cross with a weak punch which found Mothibantwa. He responded well, unleashing a powerful drive that found the back of the net.
Later, Pirates looked in serious trouble in the second half when Lucky Lekgwathi was sent off for an off-the-ball incident after 64 minutes. The Buccaneers, though, refused to buckle under and kept battling
away.
With time almost up and 90 minutes showing on the clock, Pirates were rewarded for their fighting spirit when Rudzani Ramudzuli netted the equaliser off a cross from the left by Lebohang Mokoena.
The match then went to penalty kicks to decide the destination of the title.
Chansa, the hero of the Buccaneers' earlier win over Kaizer Chiefs turned into the villain when his penalty was saved by Omony, which was enough to see Celtic through to a 4-3 win from the spot.
Phunye Sele Sele captain John Maduka said the victory was special because it had come at the expense of the glamour clubs, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
Looking back on the final, he said: "We dominated the match but we did not take our chances. When Pirates equalised late in the match, I thought 'Eish, it's happening again, we lose in the finals'.
"It was scary to go to penalties because, as you know, a shoot-out is like a lottery as it can go either way. Then again, it's good
for the spectators to watch.
"We're happy because we now enter the new season motivated to do well."
| 
