Arrows hold Celtic to draw on Komphela's return

Golden Arrows held Bloemfontein Celtic to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership clash at Dr Molemela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The result moves Siwelele up to fifth place on the log standings, eight points off leaders Bidvest Wits. Arrows remain in 10th.

Abafana Bes’thende threatened early through Siboniso Conco on head coach Steve Komphela's return to Bloemfontein, mere weeks after leaving the Free State club in favour of a switch to the KwaZulu-Natal province.

The attacker guided the first shot in anger straight at Siwelele skipper Patrick Tignyemb, who was well positioned to make a comfortable save in the eighth minute.

The visitors' early promise, though, dwindled amid the scorching conditions in Bloemfontein with the hosts taking full advantage on the cusp of halftime.

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Kabelo Dlamini found a gap in the Arrows defence before firing a sweet shot into the back of the net with 43 minutes on the clock to hand the hosts a narrow lead at the break.

Celtic carried that momentum into the second half, but Arrows duly equalised through Knox Mutizwa in the 64th minute.

The Zimbabwean forward almost exclusively deals in great goals and lived up to his billing - bending home an inch-perfect free-kick past Tignyemb for his second goal in as many games.

Sensing a rare win in the Free State province, Arrows pushed forward in the closing stages of the clash, but it was not to be as the two teams ultimately shared the spoils.

Bloemfontein Celtic (1) 1 (Dlamini 43')

Golden Arrows (0) 1 (Mutizwa 64')

Celtic: Tignyemb; Sam, Lingwati (Pfumbidzai 67'), Rikhotso, De Jongh, Phalane, Baloyi, Mashikinya, Dlamini (Shikweni 89'), Masuku (Potsane 72'), Mabena.

Arrows: Gumede; Lunga, Mathiane, Mzava, Sibisi, Seth Parusnath (Moreira 60'), Phiri, Conco (Sibiya 46'), Venter, Mutizwa (Magubane 78'), Lamola.