Greek Gods thrash Celtic

Cape Town - Hellenic turned on the charm to whip Bloemfontein Celtic 5-0 in a Castle Premier League match at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

The Greek Gods struck like lightning, sending the Bloem side to one of their heaviest defeats this season and it was thanks to three goals by Bradley August which did the damage.

Hellenic broke the ice in the very first minute when Alexis Motaung sent in inviting cross for striker Jonathan Solomon to hit home past Celtic keeper Nkosana Maseko.

The visitors hardly had time to savour their misfortune when they were 2-0 in arrears. This time it was Solomon who was the provider and August rifled a powerful shot from close-range in the sixth minute into the net.

Celtic should've reduced the deficit in the 24th minute when Lehlohonolo Seema found Daniel Matsau with a pinpoint cross, but he nodded a tame effort which goalkeeper John Goodwin stopped easily.

The Cape side went further ahead in the 27th minute when David O'Gorman cut down the right flank, sent in a cross and Motaung connected but it was cleared off the goalline to a lurking Solomon who netted.

Celtic defender Fabian McCarthy was unfortunate with a low shot from the halfway line in the 53rd minute, but Goodwin again did well to deny the Bloem outfit.

August got his second in the 57th minute when he finished Solomon's cross and three minutes later he got his third with a powerful volley.

Celtic never gave up, but Goodwin denied them at every turn. The keeper however did not see out the match though when he was stretchered off five minutes from fulltime with an injury and defender Craig Bianchi had to man the posts as Hellenic had used up their three substitutions.

It was no comfort to Celtic though as they ran out of time - and ideas. - Sapa