Polokwane City and Moroka Swallows remain unmoved in the DStv Premiership table after they played out to a 0-0 draw at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Both teams struggled to carve out clear goalscoring opportunities and resorted to shooting from distance for the most part, although the two goalkeepers did have a couple of saves to make.
FULL-TIME:@polokwane_city 0-0 @Moroka_Swallows #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/R1E2G1TgSZ
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) November 11, 2023
Rise And Shine (6th) extended their unbeaten run to seven matches in the top flight to stay a point behind Steve Komphela's side, who closed within two points of Golden Arrows in fifth place.
Polokwane were seeking their first victory in four league games after three successive draws, while Swallows went in search of their fourth win in five matches to put pressure on the top four.
The hosts made a bright start and created two early chances, with Lebohang Nkaki directing a header straight at Daniel Akpeyi from Ndumiso Mabena's cross in the fifth minute before Mokibelo Ramabu cleared the target with a strike from range on seven minutes.
Nkaki then failed to keep his header down from a free-kick in the 17th minute and Mabena pulled his shot wide of the left post from distance just before the half-hour mark.
Oswin Appollis also dragged his long-range shot wide of the left post on 34 minutes as the Soweto outfit looked to weather the storm. They would finish the half strongly though, and Kagiso Malinga saw his shot from range drift to the left of the goal in the 44th minute, while Lantshene Phalane threatened with a strike that flew inches past the left post moments later.
Manuel Sapunga was called into action for the first time in the 49th minute to keep out Malinga's header from Ntsako Makhubela's cross before the action quickly switched to the other end as Akpeyi denied Puleng Tlolane on 50 minutes after Tholo Matuludi had picked him out inside the box with a cross.
Douglas Mapfumo failed to trouble Akpeyi with an effort from range on 57 minutes following a corner, while back up the other end of the pitch Malinga drew a superb save out of Sapunga with another long-range attempt in the 62nd minute.
Malinga at least managed to hit the target with his next shot on 77 minutes, although Sapunga made a comfortable save and Appollis looked to snatch victory late on with a strike from distance that sailed to the left of the goal as the game ended goalless.
Polokwane City (0) 0
Moroka Swallows (0) 0
POLOKWANE CITY: M. Sapunga, T. Matuludi, F. Baloyi, L. Nkaki, L. Ndlovu, M. Ramabu (N. Raphadu 72'), N. Mabena (P. Tlolane 46'), N. Maphangule, O. Appollis, G. Mashikinya (A. Fikizolo 82'), H. Chauke (D. Mapfumo 46').
MOROKA SWALLOWS: D. Akpeyi, K. Phillips, K. Allan, V. Sibiya, B. Sam, N. Makhubela (S. Khumalo 85'), L. Phalane, A. Jali, T. Maponya (O. Khumalo 69'), T. Mabasa, K. Malinga.