AmaZulu fail to get past brave Polokwane City

AMAZULU missed out on an opportunity to climb the table yesterday afternoon at King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi as they shared the spoils with Polokwane City in an Absa Premiership encounter which ended goalless.

Usuthu desperately needed the three points but they failed to make their home advantage count. It was a third draw on the trot for Usuthu at home which is not good reading for a side that is looking to get out of the relegation zone. They are still bottom with four points after 10 league matches, four points behind Maritzburg United. Usuthu dominated the early proceedings.

Thembela Sikhakhane was causing all sorts of problems for City with his storming, overlapping runs on the right wing. His pin-point cross almost produced an opener for Usuthu 14 minutes into the match but Siyabonga Nomvethe fired his header off target.

Emiliano Tade also came close to break the deadlock for Usuthu but Harold Ndlovu did well as punched away the attempt. Bongi Ntuli constructed a very promising move 30 minutes into the game, exchanging swift passes with Nomvethe, who sold the dummy to Edgar Makana, and then played it back but Ayanda Nkili did well to put the lanky striker off.

Siyabonga Mbatha was spectator for Usuthu between the sticks in the first half. Polokwane were trying to catch Usuthu on the break using the experience of Rodney Ramagalela and Mohamed Anas.

Usuthu failed to continue where they left off in first half during the second stanza, while City came out with purpose but neither side could make the breakthrough and secure the points booth their teams desperately need.