Kaizer Chiefs failed for the fourth time this season to win three straight matches in all competitions after drawing 0-0 with Cape Town City on Wednesday in the South African Premiership.
After an impressive Nedbank Cup quarterfinal victory at Stellenbosch last weekend, expectations were high that Chiefs would overcome rivals winless in eight matches.
But the closest the home side came to securing maximum points in Johannesburg was a curved early second-half shot from Congolese Glody Lilepo that rebounded off the crossbar.
#BetwayPrem - RESULT:@KaizerChiefs and @CapeTownCityFC played to a goalless draw at FNB Stadium pic.twitter.com/HRvwID2qAP
— Official PSL (@OfficialPSL) March 12, 2025
Late in the first half a blunder by another Congolese, Cape Town defender Nathan Fasika, gifted Mduduzi Shabalala a golden opportunity from close range, but he fired wide.
"I have many regrets after this match because we should have won given the number of scoring chances," said Tunisia-born Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi.
"No Premiership match is easy, no matter the form of your opponents, and Cape Town often had 10 players just in front of their goalkeeper. However, we should have scored several times."
"I'm very sorry for losing three points today" 🎙️
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) March 12, 2025
Coach Nabi's post-match interview after Amakahosi's goalless draw 👀
📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/EFmGFBgsDd
Chiefs hold the record for domestic titles with 53, but they last lifted a trophy in 2015 when crowned champions.
The draw kept Chiefs eighth, 29 points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, who beat AmaZulu 2-0 in Pretoria on Tuesday through second-goals from Namibian Peter Shalulile and Brazilian Arthur Sales.
Seeking an eighth consecutive league title, Sundowns stretched their lead to 18 points after second-placed Orlando Pirates drew 0-0 with 10-man Stellenbosch in Cape Town.
Kenya defender Brian Mandela was shown a straight red card in the first half, leaving Stellenbosch to play 59 minutes a man short.
On Sunday, Sundowns are away to Pirates, who have four matches in hand, and a victory for the defending champions would virtually seal another title with seven games to play.