Cape Town - Chippa United were held to a goalless draw at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium by Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership clash on Tuesday.
While Chippa saw plenty of the ball in the first-half, it was Celtic who created the better openings - most often through counter attacks and a willingness to play longer passes forward whenever they had the chance.
One such example produced a great opportunity in the 14th minute as Vuyisile Wana did great work to control a long ball before beating his marker to be faced with only the goalkeeper to beat, but Daniel Akpeyi made a brave save at his feet.
Twenty minutes later another swift, direct attack by the visitors saw Fiston Abdul Razak presented with a sight of goal, but his shot from the edge of the area drifted wide of the target and was no bother for Akpeyi.
Scoring chances remained relatively hard to come by for both teams, but midway through the second half Celtic threatened again when Mpho Maruping got up highest to meet a free kick from Lyle Lakay, only to direct his header over the target.
On 82 minutes Chippa came the closest to a goal that either side managed when Diamond Thopola went for goal direct from a free kick he had the beating of Patrick Tignyemb, but not the woodwork, with his shot rebounding off the angle of post and crossbar.
Deep in injury time Menzi Masuku got on the end of a fine diagonal cross from Thopola and glanced a header just wide of the far post, Chippa’s last effort to try and claim all three points on offer.