Chippa United and Maritzburg United continued with their stuttering form after playing to a 0-0 stalemate in a league match at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Wednesday night.
Coming into the game after the tragic death of promising young midfielder Mlondi Dlamini in a motor vehicle accident, it was always going to be difficult for Maritzburg and they never really fired on all cylinders on the night.
While United have now gone seven matches in all competitions without victory, they at least managed to avoid a third successive league defeat. For Tebogo Moloi’s Chippa side, who twice struck the bar in the second half, it was a fifth consecutive draw.
The Chilli Boys had the first chance of the evening 10 minutes into the game when Mark Mayambela powered down the right flank and crossed for Lerato Manzini, but he fired wide of goal.
Fadlu Davids’ men were unable to pose much threat and it was again Chippa who had an effort on goal, but Mayambela also failed to test Maritzburg keeper Richard Ofori.
Ofori was called into the action in the 33rd minute, ensuring that Kurt Lentjies was unable to score against his former club with his shot from outside the box.
Mayambela was looking Chippa’s best bet to break the deadlock and he was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet eight minutes into the second half after thumping a free-kick into the woodwork.
Maritzburg began to find some rhythm to their play and with the Eastern Cape side also intent on attacking, the game opened up and provided some good end-to-end action.
The Chilli Boys were once more denied by the frame of the goal when Samuel Julies’ shot from inside the box 10 minutes from time came back off the bar.
There was an added time chance for Maritzburg through Sheldon van Wyk, but Chippa keeper Daniel Akpeyi made the save to ensure a the spoils were shared. – African News Agency (ANA)
