Kaizer Chiefs and Bloemfontein Celtic played to a goalless draw in an Absa Premiership match away at the Free State Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The Amakhosi are on top of the league log with 47 points from 19 matches.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter decided to keep Brilliant Khuzwayo in goal, leaving Itumeleng Khune on the bench.

Meanwhile, Willard Katsande returned to the starting line-up after missing the last two Absa Premiership matches towards the end of last year due to injury.

Chiefs started as the better team. However, not many real chances were created. After about 20 minutes, Celtic started to get more possession of the ball and getting into the Amakhosi’s box. But they never got close to scoring and even if they got into threatening positions, goalkeeper Khuzwayo was alert.

The game was played on a poor pitch, which didn’t help either side put together great combination play. However, it probably affected the Amakhosi most, as they like to get forward, using short passing movements.

The second half started more or less like the first, with both teams not really creating any real chances. However, the best early chances came for the hosts in the 54th minute, when Siboniso Gaxa chested the ball back towards Khuzwayo. But the Chiefs goalkeeper didn’t anticipate the defender’s move and Celtic striker Dumisani Zuma nearly profited, heading the ball over the goal.

Khuzwayo made up for his moment of indecision minutes later, when he reacted excellently to keep a shot from Celtic striker Lerato Lamola out of the goal, diving to his left.

The game continued to be tight, with few balls getting played in the last third of the field on either side.

Amakhosi coach Baxter tried to get some more offensive movement by bringing on Siphelele Mthembu for Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Chiefs nearly scored from a corner in the 80th minute when defender Erick Mathoho headed into the far corner of the goal, but a Celtic defender managed to just keep the ball from going in.

The game opened up a bit during the last ten minutes of the match with both sides suddenly getting goalscoring opportunities.

New signing David Zulu came on in the 84th minute for Mandla Masango, making his debut.

In the end, no goals were scored and the draw was probably a proper reflection of the game.

Coach Baxter admitted afterwards that the team didn’t play well, although he also mentioned “feeling cheated by the pitch”, indicating that the field was probably better suited for cows than soccer players.

Chiefs will host Botswana’s Township Rollers in a CAF Champions League encounter at the FNB Stadium on Saturday, 14 February (kick-off at 19:30).

Bloemfontein Celtic 0

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Chiefs: Khuzwayo, Gaxa, Mashamaite (Capt), Mathoho, Masilela, Masango (Zulu 84’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala (Mthembu 70’), Parker, Maluleka

Celtic: Tignyemb, Mzava, Bilankulu, Fransman (Capt), Ritchie, Morena, Nyatema (Gabonameng 92’), Ndengana, Motshegwa (Ntanga 60’), Lamola, Zuma (Mulenga 57’)