KwaMashu - Jomo Cosmos continued their fight against Premiership relegation by picking up a point against AmaZulu in a goalless draw at the Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Wednesday evening.
In a match that lacked opportunities, Dumisani Zwane missed the best chance for the hosts when he was put through on the left early in the second half - only to see his attempt saved by Avril Phali.
The visitors’ best opening came when substitute Siyabonga Nontshinga fired just over the crossbar after a late breakaway.
The point left Usuthu in eighth place on the standings, while Jomo Sono’s Ezenkosi remained bottom on 17 points and with three games remaining - they could still catch both Santos (23) and Black Leopards (25) if they win their last three games and other results end in their favour.
Cosmos carved out the first two chances of the half when Alois Ngwerume mistimed his attempt tamely to the left, before Kathleho Loke’s corner almost dipped under Tapuwa Kapini’s crossbar, forcing the goalkeeper to acrobatically turn the ball wide.
At the other end, January recruit Josef Lekata crossed tantalisingly into the middle, but Kagiso Senamela arrived too late as the chance went begging.
A swift breakaway move saw Ayanda Dlamini played in on the left side of the box but his shot from a tight angle was straight at Phali.
Usuthu again had the wrong man in the right position after the half-hour mark when Dlamini put a dangerous ball across the face of goal, but midfielder Senamela failed to react quickly enough by sticking out a leg that could have directed the ball goalwards.
Five minutes before the interval, the Usuthu forward was again in the mix when his attempted overhead kick flew over, while Ngwerume twice shot wide as it ended scoreless at the break.
At the start of the second period, Dlamini should have at least hit the target after Tsweu Mokoro crossed from the right, but the finish was hopelessly over at the back post.
Mokoro was also off target moments later when a rising effort landed on the grass embankment behind the goal as the home crowd were becoming impatient.
They finally had something to shout about in the 55th minute when Zwane was played in on the left by Lekata, but the attempt from 15 metres out was excellently blocked by Phali, diving to his right.
With 17 minutes remaining, substitute Nontshinga almost grabbed a breakaway goal when he surged away through the middle and cut away to the right, before sending a dipping shot just over.
Another replacement Goodman Dlamini saw his deflected shot land on the roof of the net at the other end, while Thamsanqa Sangweni powered his way into the box, but shot wide with the match ending scoreless. - Sapa