Cape Town City and SuperSport United played out a plodding 0-0 draw at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.
It was, truth be told, a rather forgettable football match, with little urgency shown by both sides.
In the end, a draw was the right result because based on the lack of enterprise shown, neither team deserved to win.
It was expected the two sides would produce more of an open contest, especially with both desperate for the three points, albeit for different reasons – City in their bid for a top four finish in the PSL, and SuperSport in their desire to steer clear of the basement of the log standings.
Instead, the action was rather dour and uneventful.
While both teams had promising moments to score, both lacked the necessary decisiveness and clinical presence required in the final third.
For SuperSport there was an early chance on goal, but Thabo Mnyamane fired wide. The Pretoria club also threatened through Thuso Phala and Evans Rusike, but found the City defence up to the task.
Rusike had an inviting opportunity 10 minutes before the break, but managed only to shoot straight at City goalkeeper Sage Stephens.
City were galvanised by the thrust of Thabo Nodada and the attacking intent of the speedy Craig Martin.
SuperSport United’s Grant Kekana gets to the ball ahead of Thabo Nodada. Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
In the ninth minute, good interplay between Surprise Ralani and Nodada crafted an opening for Martin, but the forward hoofed the ball high.
Ten minutes later, it was Martin again to the fore when he whipped in a delightful curling shot which thundered against upright.
And five minutes before halftime, Nodada was a touch unfortunate when he clipped a shot wide after some industrious work in the build-up.
Nodada, though, had been involved in a clash of heads early in the first half – he received treatment on a gash in his head and returned with his head heavily bandaged.
Cape Town City defender Ebrahim Seedat goes in for the ball against SuperSport United’s Thuso Phala. Photo: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
But he succumbed to the injury and was replaced at the start of the second half by Lyle Lakay.
The loss of the influential Nodada was a big blow for City, and this was then compounded when Teko Modise limped off with a groin strain, to be replaced by Mpho Matsi.
As such, City struggled to find their rhythm in the second half and the better chances accrued to SuperSport, with Aubrey Modiba drawing an acrobatic save from Stephens and Phala shooting narrowly wide.
Clayton Daniels could also have snatched all three points for the Pretoria side, but his powerful header hit the upright.
City had an opportunity just before the end when Martin played in Ralani, but the winger flashed the ball over the bar from right in front.
@Reinerss11