Sundowns, Bloem Celtic in stalemate

The first chance of note arrived on six minutes, but Celtic's Tebogo Potsane fired his shot straight into the grateful arms of Kennedy Mweene in the 'Downs goal.

Sundowns eventually lodged their first effort on goal in the 13th minute, Lebohang Maboe shooting a tame effort straight at Celtic 'keeper Amour Tignyemb.

Maboe then had a great chance to redeem himself on 23 minutes, but he again failed to hit his shot with any real intent or power and Tignyemb snapped up the ball with ease.

Tignyemb was again called into action just after the half-hour mark but it was another tame effort from 'Downs, as Zwane too fired straight at the Cameroonian keeper.

However, the first half ended on a sour note after Wandisile Letlabika collided with Hlompho Kekana in injury time, with play subsequently halted for 12 minutes while he was treated for a serious head injury. Sadly, Letlabika was unable to continue, leaving the field of play on a stretcher, with Mzwanele Mahashe taking his place.

The second half started with a series of niggling fouls committed by both sides, and the first noteworthy chance was eventually created by Celtic on the hour mark, Tshegofatso Mabaso forcing Mweene into making an impressive reaction stop.

There was very little else in the way of goalmouth action, though, as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances in a drab second stanza.

And, with Potsane and Tignyemb running down the clock after suffering respective knocks, the match petered out as Sundowns again squandered a glorious in injury time. Substitute Emiliano Tade crossed the ball into the danger area for Laffor, who somehow failed to find the mark as he shot across the face of goal.