Moroka Swallows have climbed up to position three on the DStv Premiership log standings following their relatively uninspiring 0-0 stalemate draw against Chippa United at the Dobsonville Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Swallows started the game with intent, as they had the first sight at goal as early as the second minute, when Kagiso Malinga missed a sitter after in-form striker Tshegofatso Mabasa set him up with a lovely cross.
The home side grew into the game and enjoyed most of the ball possession, but neither side created any clear-cut goal scoring opportunities.
At the stroke of half-time, the home side almost broke the deadlock when playmaker Ntsako Makhubela and Mabasa exchanged some good passes, but the final ball let them down and went into the break goalless.
The Chilli Boys came out in the second half looking better, as they took the game to Swallows and tested goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Chippa coach Morgan Mammila made some two changes, as Ronaldo Maarman and Menzi Ndwandwe came in for Luvuyo Memela and Elmo Kambindu.
His opposite number Steve Komphela also followed suite with his own double substitution, which saw Malinga and Makhubela make way for Dumisani Zuma and Mbulelo Wambi.
In the dying stages of the game, both sides took the game to each in search of the winning goal, and the visitors came close to landing the sucker punch, when captain Roscoe Pietersen saw his header from a well-worked corner saved by Akpeyi few meters from the goal-line.
Additional time from the referee was not enough as both teams had to settle for a draw and walk away with one point apiece.
The Dube Birds currently have 14 points – two points behind SuperSport United, who found a late winner against strugglers Cape Town Spurs in their late kick-off at Athlone Stadium. Mammila’s Chippa sit above Kaizer Chiefs on number seven with 13 points.
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