Cape Town - Santos were entrenched further into the Premiership relegation zone as they went down 1-0 to SuperSport United at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Wednesday night.
Thabiso Nkoana scored in the 82nd minute to keep SuperSport in touch with the log leaders, with only five games left in the season.
It was a match that typified the pressure at the end of the campaign as both sides, in particular the home team, struggled to find penetration when going forward.
The game got off to a lively start, with the hosts looking positive from the outset.
Their first threat on goal came after seven minutes when Eleazar Rodgers got on the end of Wayne Arendse's free kick, but SuperSport keeper Rowen Fernandez was able to dive across and pluck the ball out of the air.
Substitute Phikolomzi Kefile, on early for Peter Mponda, also tested Fernandez with a stinging drive from 25m out.
Three minutes later the Tshwane side were close to opening their account when Kermit Erasmus hammered a shot into the upright.
There were no further clear-cut chances at either end for the remainder of the half as some tough tackling in midfield meant neither side was able to get into the final third of the field.
SuperSport were the stronger outfit in the second half, enjoying more of the ball possession, but for the most part they did little to create any real threat in front of goal.
Erasmus had a good chance seven minutes after the restart, but his effort was well dealt with by Santos goalminder Pa Demba Touray.
Following that opportunity there was little in the way of goalmouth action, despite the visiting side holding more of the possession.
The deadlock was finally broken with eight minutes to go when Nkoana belied his top-flight inexperience as he slotted home expertly, picking out the corner of the net after Atsuaye Nyondo did well to square the ball from the right. - Sapa