Ten-man Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows could not be separated after playing to a goalless draw on Saturday night.
Under-fire Ashley Du Preez remained in the starting line-up despite alarming displays in front of goal lately before Keagan Dolly, Pule Mmodi and Yusuf Maart returned o the back of the Amakhosi’s shock cup final loss to Milford Stallions.
Chiefs huffed and puffed repeatedly just after the start and a number of entries let alone shots on goal flew wide of the mark with Daniel Akpeyi not bothered at all.
Du Preez looked to have got the lead when he tapped in from close-range as Akpeyi spurned Ranga Chivaviro’s header back into play a little before the half-hour mark, but the offside flag went up.
Swallows enjoyed the first decent chance late in the half and had Gabadinho Mhango go wide to collect a square pass to draw space for a shot, but Bruce Bvuma parried.
The Amakhosi were reduced to ten men a minute into the second half after Edmilson Dove upended Mhango in a dangerous position and gave the referee no choice but to brandish a straight red card.
Nothing promising came from the resultant free-kick that followed right on the centre-circle of the box, as the defensive-wall steered behind and into touch.
However, inclement weather conditions pertaining to lightning conditions struck upon the match venue in the 57th minute and forced the man in the middle to halt proceedings.
As the conditions cleared up, the clash resumed with the Dube Birds keen to settle and go ahead through a long-range drive from Basil Mphahlele but Bvuma repelled.
Chiefs upped the tempo in the closing stages and added more firepower too in Sibongiseni Mthethwa and Christian Saile Basomboli.
Mhango missed a glorious chance with ten minutes to go when he volleyed a loose ball from the area over the top as the Amakhosi went to sleep.
Bvuma then rescued a point for his side when he made a point-blank save to deny Lindokuhle Mtshali firing in after meeting a low cross.
The spoils were ultimately shared though given the inability to make the breakthrough from either side, with the Amakhosi unable to return to ways.
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Confirmed line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: Bvuma, Kwinika, Msimango, Dove, Mashiane, Maart, Castillo, Mmodi, Dolly, Du Preez, Chivaviro.
Subs: Petersen, Nj. Hlanti, Ngcobo, Mthethwa, Nk. Ngcobo, Solomons, Saile, Duba, Vilakazi.
Moroka Swallows: Akpeyi, Mphahlele, Mngonyama, Sibiya, Damons, Tshanini, Mthethwa, Khupe, Mtshali, Mhango, Everson.
Subs: Mbanjwa, Mapoonya, Koapeng, Rampa, Mahlonoko, Sanou, Mbanjwa, Ngqonga, Nyauza.
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