The game was delayed for ten minutes to allow late-coming supporters to make their way into the stadium but once the match got under way, it was exciting end-to-end action.

This victory took Celtic to sixth on the log while Chiefs remain on position 12 after eight matches.

The first shot in anger from Celtic with John Maduka cracking a half volley from outside the box after only 30 seconds but Fernandez was equal to the task.

Defender Fabian McCarthy and midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box with a tackle on Spandeel. The Celtic man quickly dusted himself off to crack home the free-kick and put Celtic in the driving seat on three minutes.

A fine Chiefs attack on six minutes with defender Cyril Nzama pushing forward and managing to play the ball through to Kilambe on the right. His effort into the box was cleared by Timothy Batabaire.

Celtic were really pushing forward and won a corner on eight minutes with man-of-the-match Ntokozo Sikhakhane’s flick-on cleared off the line by David Mototo.

The Celtic keeper was nearly punished on 24 minutes as he made a meal of Ngobese’s shot. He fumbled the save and the ball almost fell to Nkosi and was relieved to see the ball cleared for a corner.

Amakhosi came close on 32 minutes with Nzama heading a fine ball towards his direction but he could not get the ball on target.

Chiefs conceded another free-kick in a dangerous position on 36 minutes. A well-worked move by the home side but this time Spandeel’s effort went above goal. A minute later Chiefs started a wonderful attacking move between Bartlett and Kilambe but Celtic survived. Amakhosi never relented as they launched attack after attack in the closing stages of the first half but they just could not find that equaliser.

The home side suffered a blow towards the end of the first half as they were forced to replace Spandeel, who appeared to pull a hamstring a few minutes earlier. Lebohang Kukame came on in his place at the start of the second half.

Chiefs made a double substitution at the start of the second half bringing on David Obua for David Mototo and Gert Schalkwyk for Arthur Zwane. It was a positive start for Chiefs as they nearly grabbed the equaliser but Obua’s effort went wide.

A brilliant move by Chiefs on 56 minutes with Obua playing the ball to Nkosi on the left, who in turn played it through to Kilambe, who managed to stay onside but his rushed shot went just wide.

Fernandez pulled a great save on 62 minutes to thwart Scott. A minute later Chiefs surged ahead into attack and Schalkwyk was fouled on the edge of the box. Nkosi fired his free-kick against the wall.

Chiefs made their final change on 70 minutes with Kaizer Motaung Jr coming on for Nengomasha, as the visitors went for an all-out attack.

With the clock running down, the pressure was on Chiefs to attack and Celtic to protect their lead. A fine move by Chiefs on 76 minutes but Celtic came away unharmed with Madidilane clearing the danger.

As Chiefs went full steam ahead, they left holes at the back which Celtic was more than happy to exploit. Taaibos launched a Celtic attack from his own half, beat McCarthy along the way before laying a fine ball across to Kukame, who fired an unstoppable shot to seal the victory.

Teams:

Bloem Celtic (4-4-2): 31-P Omony, 12- J Madidilani, 2-T Nthethe, 6-T Batabaire, 16-S Chalwe, 18-J Maduka, 23-N Sikhakhane, 17-P Malokase, 27-C Scott, 10-K Taaibos, 11-M Spandeel




Substitutes: 30-S Walters, 20-B Tipa, 5-L Mphongoa, 15-T Liau, 21-C Mubiala, 4-A Nteo, 24-L Kukane

Kaizer Chiefs (4-4-2): 1-R Fernandez, 6-F McCarthy, 4-C Nzama, 21-P Mayo, 33-D Mototo, 18-A Zwane, 8-T Nengomasha, 11-E Ngobese, 10-S Nkosi, 17-S Bartlett, 22-R Kilambe


Substitutes: 16-R Wuest, 2-J Tau, 13-D Obua, 31-D Radebe, 7-K Motaung Jnr, 25-G Schalkwyk, 44-S Mkhonza