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Cape Town - Jomo Cosmos played to their third successive goalless draw when they frustrated SuperSport United in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Ezenkosi parked the bus for the full 90, but their night was almost spoiled in the dying embers of the game, with Sherwyn Naicker pulling off a world class save to deny Jeremy Brockie a goal and Matsatsantsa all three points.
SuperSport applied all the early pressure, with the visitors camping in their own half from the onset.
As a result it was up to Matsatsantsa to find a way past the Cosmos wall. Michael Boxall saw his attempt wide before Thuso Phala, still searching for his first goal since taking over the captain’s armband, scuffed a shot from the edge of the area on 12 minutes.
Despite their defensive approach, Cosmos would register the first shot on target through Tebogo Makobela. The attacker guided his header attempt straight into Ronwen Williams’ hands.
SuperSport have caused teams problems from set-pieces this season and were presented a chance to open the scoring after Naicker failed to hold onto Thuso Phala's cross. The ball fell to Isaka Cernak, but the Australian slipped at the point of impact - to the relief of the Cosmos gloves-man.
Kingston Nkhatha squandered a golden chance to open the scoring in the 34th minute - with the goal at his mercy and teammates around him, the Zimbabwean shot wide from close range.
Nkhatha was eager to make up for the miss and went close to redeeming himself on the cusp of half-time, his turn and shot troubling the side netting.
SuperSport continued to dominate possession after the interval, but Cosmos had their chances on the counter with Pentjie Zulu and Makobela shooting wide of Williams’ goal.
In a desperate attempt to break the deadlock, Gordon Igesund introduced Bradley Grobler and Phumelele Bhengu in quick succession.
Go-to guy Brockie almost delivered once again with four minutes of regulation time remaining, but was brilliantly denied by Sherwyn Naicker.
Dean Furman clipped the ball over the Cosmos defensive line before Boxall squared to his New Zealand team-mate, who looked sure to score, but somehow Naicker managed to divert the ball over the crossbar from point-blank range.
