Mpumalanga Black Aces and the University of Pretoria had to settle for a share of the spoils when they played to a 0-0 draw in their Absa Premiership encounter at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday night.

Both sides had opportunities to take away maximum points but the two goalkeepers proved to be the heroes on the night.

The hosts came close to taking the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Collins Mbesuma fired a freekick on target from a long way out, but Washington Arubi was able to make a good block.

Five minutes later it was the visiting side who almost benefitted from a defensive error as Mpho Matsi ran onto a weak backpass from Edwin Gyimah, only to send his effort wide of the upright.

Energy Munyambandoro then pulled off a great one-handed save in the 27th minute to keep the scores level, diving to his right to keep out an effort from Atusaye Nyondo.

AmaZayoni also came close at the other end in the 34th minute but Bongolwethu Jayiya was denied by Arubi before Tendai Ndoro rushed his follow-up effort over the crossbar.

The first chance of the second half fell for AmaTuks in the 47th minute when Vuyisile Ntombayithethi got a shot away from the edge of the box, only to be denied by a diving save from Murambandoro.

Arubi pulled off another save at the other end six minutes later, diving to his right to parry a well-struck effort from Abia Nale, who had been played through on the right.

In the 75th minute, Nyondo and Thabo Mosadi combined well outside the box before the latter fired a low shot wide of the target.

The final chance of the match fell for substitute Ronald Ketjijere in the first minute of added time when the ball was set up for him just outside the box, but he curled his first time shot over the crossbar as the match ended goalless.

Mpumalanga Black Aces 0
University of Pretoria 0

Teams:

Aces: Murambandoro, Nonyane, Adusei, Gumede, Gyimah, Nengomasha, Timm, Jayiya (Tukane 81’), Nale, Mbesuma (Khenyeza 71’), Ndoro (Masina 66’)

University of Pretoria: Arubi, Shoyisa, Kekana (Ketjijere 60’), Nzimande, Jaure, Ntombayithethi, Matsi, Ngubane, Mosadi (Massa 83’), Nyondo, Zwane (Mnyamane 88’)