The University of Pretoria continued their dismal form at home after playing to a 0-0 draw against Ajax Cape Town in an Absa Premiership game at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday night.

AmaTuks went into the game on the back of a six game winless streak in the league.

The topflight rookies drew 2-2 in their last outing against Platinum Stars and were eager to secure their first victory of 2013 going into the game against the Urban Warriors.

The University side ran out convincing 5-1 victors the last time the two teams met in Cape Town last year thanks to four goals from Aubrey Ngoma.

Ajax Cape Town have had a similar depressing time this year. The Urban Warriors were also seeking their first victory since the turn of the year.

The Cape side went into the game looking to claim only their fifth victory of the campaign as well as trying to move out of the relegation zone.

Both sides were slowly out of the blocks as they tried to string a few passes together.

From the outset it was imminent that the main battle of the night will be between the lanky figures of Mame Niang and Matthew Booth. The two players were in a constant aerial battle from the first whistle.

Bongani Zungu had the first chance of the match in the fourth minute of the game.

The AmaTuks midfielder found himself in space in the box but his resulting header was straight at the keeper.

Zunga again found himself unmarked in the opposition box two minutes later but the AmaTuks star failed to hit the target.

Khama Billiat went close for Ajax in 24th with a free-kick from the left side of the field.

The midfielder hit the ball sweetly but Washington Arubi was up to the task and tipped the ball out for a corner kick.

Billiat went close again a minute later with a free-kick from just outside the box. The Zimbabweans effort took a slight deflection and just passed Arubi’s right hand post.

AmaTuks had the best chance of the half through Zungu. Thokozani Sekotlong played a curling ball into box, Zungu shook off his defender a headed inches wide of Westerveld’s goal in the 33rd minute of the match.

The half ended goalless.

Billiat and Zungu were either sides main enforcer in the first 45, troubling the oppositions defence on a constant basis.

The Urban Warriors created the first real chance of the second stanza through Toriq Losper in the 62nd minute of the match.

Cecil Lolo played a beautiful ball into the box from the left side flank, the ball found Toriq on the edge of the box but he was unable to hit the target with his resulting header.

Mame Niang got the better of Booth in the 70th minute of the match. The Senegalese striker timed his jump to perfection but his header was well stopped by Westerveld.

Niang again troubled Westerveld with his head four minutes later. The AmaTuks striker lost his marker and headed the ball towards goal but he was brilliantly denied by a fully stretched Westerveld.

Westerveld yet again denied Niang in the 79th minute of the match. The Senegalese striker beat the offside trap and hit a fierce shot across goal but the Dutch international produced a superb save to keep the score all tied up.

Westerveld was named man of the match for his brilliant display between the sticks.

The game ended all square, and subsequently Ajax remain in 15th position on the log while AmaTuks move up one place into eighth.

AmaTuks (0) 0
Ajax Cape Town (0) 0

Teams

AmaTuks: Arubi; Kobola (Lubelo 80’), Shoyisa, Bishop (Mosadi 63’), Moussono-Moussono, Mkhwanazi, Ketjijere, Sekotlong (Radebe 54’), Zungu, Ngoma, Niang

Ajax Cape Town: Westerveld; Hlatshwayo, Allie, Booth, Lolo, Scott, Billiat, Davids (Shabalala 82’), Khenyeza, Losper (Dolly 80’), Nale (Costa Viana 82’)