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Polokwane, AmaZulu play out stalemate

football25 September 2023 14:53| © Backpage TXT
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Polokwane City and AmaZulu played out a goalless stalemate in their DStv Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Monday afternoon.

This public holiday clash saw Usuthu create the better opportunities, but they didn’t quite do enough to claim a third straight league win.

As for Rise and Shine, they avoided a third straight defeat on the back of a resilient defensive performance – and a little bit of luck in regards to a penalty that they should have conceded in the first half.

The result saw both sides rise one spot on the log: AmaZulu are up to sixth, while Polokwane are now 12th.

Scoring chances were few and far between through the first half, with both teams struggling to trouble goalkeepers Manuel Sapunga and Veli Mothwa.

The main talking point of the first half was a controversial incident in the 35th minute which should have resulted in a penalty for AmaZulu.

Following an attack from the visitors which fizzled out, Sapunga took a short goal kick to Bulelani Nikani, who was still in the 18-yard box.

However, the defender appeared to believe that he was taking a free kick in his position and stopped the ball with his hand.

This was a clear, deliberate handling of the ball in the box (albeit due to a misunderstanding rather than an infringement) and should have given Usuthu a spot kick, yet the match officials either didn’t fully understand what had occurred or chose to ignore it – much to the fury of AmaZulu’s players and technical team.

Both teams made changes at the start of the second half, with Polokwane replacing Mokibelo Ramabu and Nyakala Raphadu with Ndumiso Mabena and Stevens Goovadia, while AmaZulu swopped out Victor Letsoalo for Sede Dion.

Usuthu looked the more likely scorers early in the second half, with Augustine Kwem and Tshepang Moremi both missing out on fine chances created by the vision of Ethan Brooks, while City gradually began to assert themselves after the hour mark.

Yet the Durban side found their attacking rhythm with around 10 minutes to play, as Riaan Hanamub blasted wide from a tight angle, before Dion saw his goal-bound effort well saved by Sapunga.

The Rise and Shine goalkeeper made another notable intervention on 87 minutes when he clawed away Ramahlwe Mphahlele’s header, as AmaZulu piled on the pressure in the final portion of the match.

Polokwane also enjoyed a late flurry in injury time, but they too lacked the necessary precision to break the deadlock, leaving the game to close with a 0-0 score line.

The teams will be back in DStv Premiership action this weekend, with AmaZulu away to Moroka Swallows on Friday and Polokwane at home to Royal AM on Saturday.

Polokwane City 0

AmaZulu 0

Polokwane: Sapunga, Matuludi, Nikani, Nkaki, Nkwe (Kambala 66’), Raphadu (Mabena 46’), Maphangule (F. Baloyi 66’), Mashikinya (Ngwepe 82’), Ramabu (Goovadia 46’), Appollis, Mapfumo

AmaZulu: Mothwa, Mphahlele, Zulu, Fielies, Sikhakhane (Human 89’), Moremi (Jooste 89’), Mobara, Brooks, Hanamub, Letsoalo (Dion 46’), Kwem (Ngema 76’)

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