Johannesburg - The University of Pretoria held off a dominant but wayward Free State Stars outfit as they settled for a goalless stalemate in their Premiership match in Phuthaditjhaba on Wednesday night.
Stars started the stronger of the two sides and had a couple of early attempts, but Angelo Kerspuy missed wide and Jessie Jackson's shot was saved by Tuks goalkeeper Washington Arubi.
The university side hit back briefly, though they were also off target, with Diyo Sibisi sending his effort sailing wide.
Stars then took control, but they continued to struggle with their accuracy, and Dove Wome was wayward himself before he got a cross over to Moeketsi Mvula who fired his header over the crossbar.
Minutes later Mvula again blasted too high before Kerspuy had another strike saved by Arubi on the half-hour mark.
The hosts continued their flailing efforts up front in the dying stages of the first half as Wome missed wide to the right and Kerspuy blasted over the bar.
Tuks eventually woke up with four minutes remaining before the break, but Ramahlwe Mphahlele's long-range shot was tipped around the post by Stars’ goalkeeper Tshepo Motsoeneng.
Fighting back after the break, the visitors came within centimetres of pulling ahead when Lionel Mutizwa slammed his shot against the bar shortly after the restart.
After a dull period in the second stanza, the university side seemed desperate to break the deadlock and looked menacing up front but struggled to capitalise.
Ayanda Lubelo, who took a shot just seconds after coming on as a substitute, and Aubrey Ngoma both had strikes saved by Tshepo Motsoeneng in the Stars goal.
Dumisani Ngwenya then sent a header sailing wide to the right before Lubelo was again denied by Motsoeneng, who was back in action a few minutes later when he kept out a direct free kick from Ngoma.
Thabo Mosadi and Ngwenya had late chances for the visitors but they both missed the target as the sides settled for a point apiece. - Sapa