Polokwane City move closer to safety

Cape Town - Polokwane City and Mpumalnga Black Aces played to a dull 0-0 draw that moved the home side one step closer to Premiership survival.

In a game with little to no goal-scoring chances, City would be the happier of the two sides as Rise and Shine moved seven points above 14th-placed University of Pretoria, while Aces remain in fifth, one point behind Platinum Stars.

In the early stages of the encounter both sides looked to soak up pressure and attack quickly on the counter, but Polokwane were the first to get into their stride and enjoyed a long spell of possession in Mushin Ertugral's side's half.

Both teams lacked any cutting edge in the final third during a day which both goalkeepers had the day off.

In the second-half, Rise and Shine's top scorer Thobani Mncwango had the best chances of the game when he attempted an audacious shot from 25 yards out with his left foot.

The thunderous strike cracked the underside of Jackson Mabokgwane's crossbar, and the rebound was wasted when Puleng Tlolane strayed offside.

A string of saves from Mabokgwane kept Amazayoni in the game 20 minutes before the whistle, with his agility off his goal-line keping the home forwards at bay.

Aces found their rhythm late on but wasted two glorious chances just before full-time, first from Judas Moseamedi and then his top-scoring strike partner Collins Mbesuma.

In a dull affair that ended 0-0, Mushin Ertugral even went as far to apologise to their fans in the post-match interview.