AmaZulu FC and Magesi FC played out a goalless stalemate in their Betway Premiership match at the Princess Magogo Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Usuthu – who finished the game with 10 men – was frustrated by a home draw against the bottom-the-log visitors, but the result at least avoided a fourth successive league loss. They are placed fifth on the log.
Dikwena tsa Meetse, meanwhile, remained 16th after extending their winless run across all competitions to 11 matches.
Their last victory was at home to TS Galaxy way back in October, and they are five points adrift of second-from-bottom Orbit College.
The first threat from either team came via Magesi’s Sifiso Luthuli, who whipped a left-footed shot just off target in the 13th minute.
The visitors’ number 39 had further half-chances for which his radar wasn’t quite calibrated, while AmaZulu’s first shot on target was from Nkosikhona Radebe, drawing a save from Elvis Chipezeze in the 27th minute.
The best chance of the first half came shortly before the break, with AmaZulu’s Hendrick Ekstein working space to let fly with a left-footed shot from just inside the box, but Chipezeze made a fine stop.
The rebound should have been converted by Thando Ngwenya, who missed out but was spared his blushes by the offside flag.
Usuthu kept up the attacking pressure in the second half, with another good chance arriving on the hour mark when Thabiso Kutumela met a cross from the right and volleyed on goal – his effort took a deflection off a defender and bounced just off target.
Dikwena tsa Meetse nearly hit their hosts with a sucker punch midway through the second half, as substitute Edmore Chirambadare sent a deflected shot narrowly wide of the goal posts.
AmaZulu were dealt a major blow with 20 minutes of regulation time remaining, as Ngwenya picked up a second yellow card (for a foul on Siyabonga Ndlozi) and was sent for an early shower – leaving Usuthu to see out the game with a numerical disadvantage.
Magesi nearly capitalised 10 minutes later via the lively Chirambadare, who let fly from outside the box and had the beating of goalkeeper Darren Johnson, but not the woodwork.
Another chance for the visitors went the way of substitute Kabelo Mahlasela in injury time, but he was unable to keep his effort down, leaving the game to close out at 0-0.
The teams will be back in Premiership action on the weekend of 13-15 March, with Magesi hosting Chippa United and AmaZulu tackling provincial rivals Richards Bay.
AmaZulu FC 0
Magesi FC 0
AmaZulu: Johnson, Radebe, Fielies, Lopes, Hanamub, Mhlongo, Hlangabeza, Dube, Ekstein (Kambindu 83’), Kutumela (Maqokolo 68’), Ngwenya
Magesi: Chipezeze, Ndlozi, Buthelezi, Matima 9Mahlasela 83’), L. Mokone, J. Mokone, Mashigo (Vandala 83’), Mariba, Mashiane (Muvhango 46’), Sibanyoni (Chirambadare 62’) Luthuli