In a grueling battle at the Olympia Park Stadium this weekend, Orbit College and AmaZulu fired blanks in a 0-0 draw in their latest Betway Premiership assignment on Saturday afternoon.
Missed chances were the theme throughout the 90 minutes, as both teams lacked the needed potency during crucial periods of the match.
The game commenced at a timid pace at the Olympia Park Stadium while Orbit College edged their opponents slightly in ball possession. With no notable scoring chances produced in the first 10 minutes, Orbit and AmaZulu battled to progress the ball into their respective final thirds.
As the dust settled in Rustenburg, AmaZulu began seeing more of the ball midway through the first-half while Orbit recorded the first shot at target. Orbit’s opportunity came via a direct free-kick on the edge of the area, as Gomolemo Khoto’s left-footed effort sailed over the bar.
The Mswenko Boys cranked up their attacking pressure as the half came to a close. Siyabulela Mabele stacked up the chances, including a header from close range in the 31st minute followed by a shot inside the box that was saved five minutes later.
Athini Maqokola had the last say of the first-half, after being picked out by Taariq Fielies en-route to goal before unleashing a shot from the middle of the goal that was eventually saved by Sekhoane Moerane.
Much like that of in the first-half, the second 45 started at a slow pace, with neither side conjuring up threatening scoring chances inside the first 10 minutes.
Following a subdued start to the second-half, Orbit began troubling the AmaZulu backline as seen with attempts by the likes of Given Thibedi and Khoto. With Usuthu on the back foot, Orbit College kept plugging away as the hour-mark approached.
In a rare opportunity for AmaZulu, Mondli Mbanjwa came close to levelling matters in the 73rd minute after his attempt went wide of the mark following a quick passing move toward goal.
With the clock ticking down at the Olympia Park Stadium, AmaZulu dominated possession while Orbit was starved of the ball for large periods. However, Usuthu struggled to make the most of their chances in the attacking half of the pitch.
The game eventually fizzled out to a stalemate as Orbit ended this weekend’s assignment in 14th on 24 points, just one point adrift of the relegation play-off zone.
Orbit College: (0) 0
AmaZulu: (0) 0
Orbit College: Moerane, Vilakazi, Mgeshane, Nhlapo, Setlhodi (Ngiba 86’), Lesako (Modimoeng 86’), Thibedi, Khoto (Masangane 91’), Mabele, Potsana, Malatsi (Batsi 73’)
AmaZulu: Mzimela, Mthethwa, Fielies, Hanamub, Radebe, Hlangabeza (Mbanjwa 46’), Bern (Ekstein 76’), Ngcobo, Maqokola (Zulu 76’), Zikhali (Mhlongo 65’), Matlhoko (Masuku 64’)