Siwelele FC and Chippa United played out a 1-1 draw in their Betway Premiership match at the Free State Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Bloemfontein hosts will feel that they dropped two points, having dominated most of the match, while the Chilli Boys can be satisfied with a hard-earned point on the road.
However, both teams remain winless in the league this season, with Siwelele placed 14th and Chippa in 12th.
Siwelele were the more cohesive team through the course of the first half, though they created only one clear chance: in the 32nd minute Vincent Pule was put into space down the left of the penalty area and he fired an effort on target, but Chippa goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali made a sharp save at his near post.
The hosts had a couple of other half-chances, including a deflected effort which nearly found the top corner midway through the first half, while the Chilli Boys did not manage any meaningful efforts to trouble goalkeeper Samukelo Xulu.
Siwelele nearly claimed the lead early in the second half via a long-range drive from Yandisa Mfolozi, but Nwabali made a finger-tip save to keep his team on par.
In the 52nd minute Chippa claimed the lead against the run of play, with Sammy Seabi finding Azola Matrose, who cut inside from the right and unleashed a thunderous left-footed drive which flashed past Xulu and put the visitors 1-0 up.
Siwelele upped the intensity in attack and were able to draw level in the 75th minute, with Mfolozi running onto a superb pass from Relebogile Mokhuoane and finishing with a first-time effort which bounced beyond the reach of Nwabali and looped into the net for 1-1.
Siwelele looked the likelier team to go on and win the game in the remaining time, but Chippa were able to hold firm in defence and earn a share of the spoils.
The teams will return to Premiership action on the first weekend of September, with Siwelele visiting Kaizer Chiefs and Chippa at home to Milford FC.
Siwelele FC (0) 1 (Mfolozi 75’)
Chippa United (0) 1 (Matrose 52’)
Siwelele: Xulu, Mfolozi, Ngcobo, Baliti, Ndebele, Issah, Mokhuoane, Margeman (Rasebotja 56’), Thulo (Clifford 88’), Pule (Mokhachane 66’), Jeza (Mazibuko 66’)
Chippa: Nwabali, Madingwane, Majadibodu, Mobara, Jones (Mfecane 84’), Matrose, Mosele, Seabi (Bonani 69’), Figuareido (Sithole 69’), Tshabalala (Kammies 46’), Mlotshwa (Ndlovu 69’)