Nothing could separate Moroka Swallows and Chippa United in the DStv Premiership this week, with the Dube Birds and Chilli Boys recording a 0-0 draw at the Dobsonville on Wednesday evening.
As the leading scorer in the DStv Premiership this season, Tshegofatso Mabasa often came close for his side against Chippa, while the visiting side likewise blanked in the final third throughout the 90 minutes.
The Dube Birds looked comfortable in possession early on and came close to breaking the deadlock in their first attacking move of the game.
Starting with Daniel Akpeyi in goal, Swallows constructed a swift passing move up field but failed to cap off the passing sequence, as Kagiso Malinga narrowly missed Tshegofatso Mabasa’s squared ball across the small box.
Chippa United managed to get into the game after an early spell of possession from the home team and looked comfortable on the ball going forward. With 25 minutes on the clock, Swallows looked assured in defensive settings and kept the travelling outfit at bay.
Despite controlling the tie in the first half-hour, Chippa played most of their football inside their own half, while Swallows looked to win the ball high up the pitch.
The Chilli Boys continued to apply pressure as the half progressed and often went direct in search of an opener. However, it was Swallows who created the best chances toward the end of the first 45, one of which fell for Mabasa inside the Chippa 18-yard-area.
Marked by Roscoe Pietersen, the Swallows forward managed to evade the attacker before fluffing his lines with a wayward shot at goal.
Much like that of the first-half, Swallows began the subsequent 45 on the front foot. Parked inside the Chippa half for the first five minutes, the Dube Birds made their intentions known early on.
As the hour-mark rolled on, the Gqeberha side piled on the pressure after making a couple of attacking reinforcements. Ronaldo Maarman and Menzi Ndwandwe made an immediate impact off the bench but were let down by the final product. Over at the other end of the pitch, Mabasa continued to trouble the Chippa defence but fell short at the final hurdle.
The game reached a tacky period after the 70th minute mark, however, the home team appeared to have gathered steam towards the end of the game.
Following end-to-end football in stoppage time, Swallows and Chippa traded blows in search of a winner. However, it was not to be for both sides come the end of the 90 minutes with the game ending in a 0-0 stalemate.
Moroka Swallows 0
Chippa United 0
Moroka Swallows: Akpeyi, Sam, Sibiyam Mngonyama, Philips, Mtshali, Jali, Phalane, Makhubela (Zuma 78’), Malinga (Wambi 78’), Mabasa
Chippa United: Nwabili (Kazapua 71’), Ntsabo, Chabalala, Pietersen, Mdunyelwa, Mulenga, Magqwaka, Mosele, Lebitso (Martin 87’), Memela (Maarman 61’), Kambindu (Ndwandwe 61’)
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