SuperSport United and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a goalless draw in their Absa Premiership clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The draw leaves Matsatsantsa placed fifth on the log with 42 points from 26 matches – nine points adrift of leaders Bidvest Wits, having played a game more. Phunya Sele Sele remain in 12th but move up to 26 points from as many matches, giving them a three-point buffer to the relegation zone.
The first chance of the match went the way of the visitors, with Celtic defender Alfred Ndengane heading wide at the far post following a set-piece in the sixth minute.
Just over 20 minutes later SuperSport showed their pace on the counter attack when they sprinted forward from a Celtic corner kick and Thabo Mnyamane forced a fine save out of Patrick Tignyemb with a powerful left-footed drive.
Celtic had the last clear chance of the first half in the 34th minute, with Lyle Lakay showing good skill to pick out Ayanda Dlamini with a cross from the right flank, but the striker was unable to turn the ball on target.
Dlamini almost had another great chance 10 minutes into the second half when Ronwen Williams fumbled a low shot from Lakay, but the goalkeeper recovered quickly to ensure the former AmaZulu striker didn’t have a tap-in.
SuperSport should have broken the deadlock in the 82nd minute: first they had the ball cleared off the line from a goal-mouth scramble at a corner kick, followed seconds later by a volley from Thabo Mnyamane which brought out an acrobatic save from Tignyemb.
Those were the final clear chances, with the match ending 0-0. United will be in league action again this weekend when they face Polokwane City away on Saturday, while Celtic will have to wait until next Wednesday for their home game against Orlando Pirates.
