If there were points awarded for the quality of their fans' singing, Bloemfontein Celtic would win the league.

As it was, Phunya Sele Sele earned their valuable first Absa Premiership win of this season with Vuyani Ntanga's 75th-minute goal sending Orlando Pirates to their second 1-0 league defeat.

Celtic at Free State Stadium are always tricky for the big teams. A flat Pirates, who rarely win here, could not get into the attacking rhythm needed to dismantle Celtic's defence.

Geofrey Massa, before his substitution just before the hour by Lerato Lamola, hustled a Bucs defence that, not for the first time this season, looked stretched. Phunya Sele Sele were the better side, prying the clearer openings.

Pirates coach Eric Tinkler brought Siyabonga Mpontshane back into his goal for Felipe Ovono from the side that beat AC Leopards 2-0 in the CAF Confederation Cup at Orlando Stadium on Saturday.

Pirates could have had a very early goal when Kermit Erasmus's corner looped over everyone to find Ayanda Gcaba free, the left-back's volley cleared off the line in just the second minute.

Massa's trickery and deceptiveness set the game alight in the 31st, as the Ugandan feigned to shoot, then put Ntanga through to tee up Dumisane Zuma to shoot at Mpontshane.

Celtic got a deserved winner when left-back Thabang Matuka floated in a cross from deep that found midfielder Ntanga free to glance a diving header past Mpontshane, handing Pirates a second defeat.

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