BLOEMFONTEIN Celtic bounced back from a goal down to defeat National First Division side Witbank Spurs 2-1 and proceed into the quarterfinals of the Nedbank Cup at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium yesterday.

Rhulani Manzini stunned the hosts with a goal in the 22nd minute, but strikes from Musa Nyatama and Botswana international Mogogi Gabonamong saw the comeback completed.

The visitors were the first to test their opposition's goalkeeper when Sici Shelembe curled in a powerful free-kick towards the top right-hand corner of the goal. Patrick Tignyemb could not hold onto his two-handed save but reacted quickly to catch the rebound away from two of Spurs' players.

Nyatama scored three goals against the University of Stellenbosch in Celtic's 8-0 win and looked to increase his tally in the tournament with a shot in the 14th minute, only to see Lindokuhle Nkambule make the save.

But in the 22nd minute it was Celtic who found themselves trailing by a goal after Manzini handed Spurs the lead. He received a cross into the box, where he won the physical battle and beat his marker before slicing the ball past Tignyemb in goal.

The home side restored parity just five minutes later when Nyatama ran past Nkambule, who came off his line, to lob a great finish into the back of the net.

Spurs nearly made it 2-1 moments later, when Celtic were guilty of some suicidal defending, but a last-ditch clearance by Musa Bilankulu prevented the ball from rolling into the net.

Both coaches opted to make a sub early in the second-half with Lerato Manzini of Celtic and Doctor Skhosana of Spurs coming on for their respective teams. Celtic took the lead with a quarter of an hour left in the match when the ball fell to Gabonamong from a corner kick and he sliced it in.