Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a goalless draw on Saturday night, despite the home side being the better team in this Absa Premiership clash, creating numerous opportunities to score. Especially the second half was an entertaining affair.

George Maluleka started in his first match for Amakhosi this season, while Bernard Parker and Itumeleng Khune hadn’t fully recovered as yet from their respective injuries to be included in the match day squad.

The home side suffered an early set-back when George Lebese had to be stretchered off with a groin injury inside five minutes of play. He was replaced by the Ugandan winger Sula Matovu.

There was a wonderful atmosphere in the stadium with more than 30 000 spectators in attendance.

Both teams tried to boss the midfield with Reneilwe Letsholonyane and Willard Katsande battling it out with Bongani Zungu and Hlompho Kekane.

Maluleka started the game well, being lively and clearly wanting to impress the coach.

The Brazilians might have had slightly the upper hand when it came to ball possession, but it was Chiefs that got the first real opportunity of the match in the 29th minute. Letsholonyane passed the ball deep to Camaldine Abraw, who entered the Sundowns box before shooting at goal. Unfortunately, the ball flew straight at the goalkeeper, who saved relatively easily.

The game was flowing up and down with Chiefs getting stronger the more the first half progressed.

Abraw nearly headed in the opener just before the break from a well-taken corner by Siphiwe Tshabalala, but the ball went over the crossbar.

Sundowns seemed to be coming out of the dressing room for the second half with a little bit more intent to go forward. However, it was Abraw who got another opportunity to score, but he lacked a bit of pace to outrun the opponent’s defence, before shooting wide.

Maluleka looked set to score in the 58th minute, but he failed to put the ball past the correct side of the post, missing the target. It was a pity, as it would have been a well-deserved goal for a player that worked his socks off.

Chiefs continued to be the more dangerous side, but the wait was for the all-important goal.

And when Amakhosi was really pressing, Sundowns goalkeeper Denis Onyango could be relied upon to get an injury. He did that a few times in the Telkom Knockout final and he repeated that at the FNB Stadium, staying on the ground in both halves for a considerable time.

Chiefs were the better side on the night, but the score stayed nonetheless goalless.

Defender Lorenzo Gordinho was selected as the Man of the Match, his second in as many league games.

Amakhosi are still in fourth position on the Absa Premiership with 22 points from 13 matches. The Brazilians stay on top of the log with 27 points (also from 13 games).

Next up for Chiefs is an Absa Premiership match on the road against Bloemfontein Celtic at the Free State Stadium on Sunday, 17 January (kick-off is at 15:30).

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Mamelodi Sundowns 0

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse; Gaxa, Mathoho, Gordinho, Masilela; Tshabalala, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Lebese (Matovu 9’, Ekstein 73’); Maluleka, Abraw (Manqele 91’)

Mamelodi Sundowns: Onyango; Mphahlele (Mbekile 78’), Nthethe, Arendse, Langerman; Zwane (Ngele 46’), Zungu, Kekana, Dolly; Billiat, Castro (Laffor 85’