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Cape Town - The Absa Premiership encounter between Bidvest Wits and Bloemfontein Celtic could not produce goals as both sides settled for a dull 0-0 stalemate at Bidvest Wits Stadium on Saturday night.
Following the draw, Clinton Larsen’s men are placed at position five on the log with 14 points from nine matches and the hosts move to the second spot with 17 points.
Gavin Hunt’s men showed some rustiness in the beginning of the match as Siwelele moved forward probing for an early goal, with Moeneeb Josephs having to produce a great save to deny a goal bound header in the opening 10 minutes by Lerato Lamola.
However, Wits displayed great touches in Siwelele’s half and a good delivery by Daine Klate from a cross was dealt with by Clinton Larsen’s defence.
Three minutes later, Lamola tried a spectacular overhead kick, however, his effort went wide, failing to trouble Josephs and once again.
As Wits were beginning to find their feet, Phakamani Mahlambi was fouled and Klate struck the set piece it well but Patrick Tignyemb was awake between the posts and saved for a corner.
After 30 minutes of action, Mahlambi unleashed a powerful cracker from range and gave the Cameroonian keeper worries as the ball went inches over the bar.
The remaining 15 minutes of the first stanza couldn’t produce scoring opportunities with both outfits heading to the tunnel level pegged at 0-0.
In the second stanza, Mahlambi made a great move inside from the right in the 68th minute, however, he fired a low shot which failed to give Tignyemb a headache.
Hunt substituted Klate and introduced Sibusiso Vilakazi and he immediately showed his skill in the middle of the park moving past a number of challenges but his final pass fails to find the intended target in the 76th minute.
In the dying minutes, it was clear that both teams would not find goals as they wasted a number of chances, and Henrico Botes received a wonderful pass in the penalty area, he turned and fired over the bar not giving Tignyemb a chance to produce a fine save.
However, in their follow up attempt with four minutes to go, Phumlani Ntshangase hit a powerful shot but failed to hit the target and both teams settled for one point apiece.
