Cape Town City halted a run of four successive defeats in the DStv Premiership after they played out to a 0-0 draw with TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Citizens will be aggrieved to come away from the game with just a point as they carved out plenty of chances and limited the Rockets' opportunities in front of goal.
The two teams came into the clash separated by just one point in the bottom half of the table, with Galaxy losing their last two games against Royal AM and AmaZulu, while City were looking to snap a four-match losing streak.
Eric Tinkler's side created numerous chances in the first half and they made a bright start as Khanyisa Mayo drew a routine save out of Vasilije Kolak with a header in the seventh minute before testing the Bosnian goalkeeper from range two minutes later.
Thabo Nodada fired over from the resulting corner and Marc van Heerden failed to keep his header down in the 13th minute, although he went closer from another corner two minutes later as the ball rolled agonisingly wide of the left post.
Brice Ambina was just inches away from opening the scoring with a strike from range that flew past the right post on 38 minutes and Darren Keet was finally called into action in the final minute of the half after Kamogelo Sebelebele took a pop from outside the box.
Juan Camilo Zapata tried his luck from distance two minutes after the restart, but saw his shot sail well over the target.
The Colombian was presented with a better opportunity from Ambina's pin-point cross in the 55th minute, only to direct his header straight at Kolak.
Lehlohonolo Mojela then wasted a glorious chance to put the hosts ahead on 62 when he steered Kganyane Letsoenyo's cross wide of the right post from close range in the 63rd minute.
City were soon on the attack again and Nodada drew a fine save out of Kolak in the 69th minute after being allowed space to shoot from range, while Bernard Parker gave Keet some work to do four minutes later with a long-range effort.
The visitors pushed for a late winner by throwing crosses into the area, but Galaxy dealt with the danger to hang on for a point.
Two teams, one outcome: A hard-fought battle ends in a deadlock at full time. ⚽🤝@aQuelle @aQuelleViV#Siyadumuza #TheRockets #TSG pic.twitter.com/81okxIZkCR
— TS Galaxy FC (@TSGALAXYFC) September 20, 2023
TS Galaxy (0) 0
Cape Town City (0) 0
TS GALAXY: V. Kolak, K. Sebelebele, M. Mahlangu, P. Sanoka, K. Letsoenyo, L. Mojela, M. Mbunjana, B. Parker, M. Mvelase, T. Gabuza (S. Mahlangu 46'), L. Mbatha (T. Rakwena 69').
CAPE TOWN CITY: D. Keet, T. Mkhize (R. Tshimanga 89'), K. Cupido (L. Gordinho 65'), M. van Heerden, D. Gonzalez, B. Ambina, T. Nodada, T. Nyama (J. Rhodes 46'), J. Zapata (J. Paciencia 78'), T. Goedeman (T. Kutumela 65'), K. Mayo.