Kaizer Chiefs and Royal AM could only settle for a point apiece after playing to a 0-0 draw during their DStv Premiership encounter at the FNB Stadium on Saturday evening.
Amakhosi and Royal AM sit on number four and five on the log standings, respectively and both level on eight points.
Coach Molefi Ntseki made two changes from the team that faced Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 first leg, which saw Colombian striker Jasond Gonzalez and skillful midfielder George Matlou being handed their first league starts.
Even though the first half was not as exciting as anticipated, Amakhosi had moments in the game where they could have gotten the lead and go into the half-time break ahead.
The forever fast Ashley Du Preez had two successive opportunities in the early stages of the game, where both of his efforts did not trouble goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo and were off target.
Royal AM seemed comfortable to sit back and invite the pressure, as the home side kept on knocking on the door but just could not find the finish product in the final third.
The closest Chiefs could get to goal was in the 34th minute, when Venezuelan star midfielder Edson Castillo fired a shot from a long way out, but his attempt rattled the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.
The second half was lively, as both teams took the game to each other but not creating clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.
Unlike his counterpart John Maduka, Ntseki was desperate to getting a goal and made three straight substitutions, which saw Reeve Frosler, Christian Saile and dribbling wizard Mduduzi Shabalala come on for Zitha Kwinika, Pule Mmodi and Gonzalez.
Moments later, Ntseki’s substitutes combined well in the 70th minute, when Saile struck the post after a fine cut-back from Du Preez and Shabalala could only fire his rebound straight at shot-stopper Ngcobo.
The visitors appeared to be comfortable to absorb the pressure from Amakhosi, with the intent to catch them on a counterattack.
In the 80th minute, Du Preez probably got the best chance of the game, when he found himself unmarked inside the box, but could not connect well with the ball after a well-worked cross from Saile.
Ntseki introduced Nkosingiphile Ngcobo as his last hope to get maximum points in the dying stages of the game, but it was a little too late as both teams shared spoils.
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