Bloemfontein Celtic and AmaZulu settled for a share of the spoils when their Absa Premiership encounter ended in a 0-0 draw at the Kaizer Sebothelo Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Both chances adopted a cautious approach in the first half and while Celtic were more adventurous after the break, they were unable to find the back of the net.

The visitors fired the first shot on target in the 15th minute when Bongani Ndulula latched onto a poor clearance on the edge of the penalty area, but his first time shot was saved by Patrick Tignyemb.

Ten minutes later Joel Mogorosi went on a good run on the left before squaring the ball towards Mogogi Gabonamong at the near post but his backheeled attempt was saved by Philani Zikalala.

Gabonamong had an even better chance three minutes later when he made a great run to meet a cross from Wandisile Letlabika; his header went past the onrushing Zikalala but also drifted just wide of the upright.

The hosts had another opportunity from a freekick four minutes before the break after Letlabika had been brought down by Tamsanqa Teyise, but Musa Nyatama curled his effort wide of goal as the scored remained 0-0 halftime.

Phunya Sele Sele were awarded an indirect freekick on the left side of the box two minutes into the second half after Zikalala was adjudged to have handled a backpass from Teyise.

The ball was rolled to Frank Mhango’s path but his low shot was cleared off the line by Bonginkosi Macala at the far post.

The visitors had a good opportunity in the 51st minute when Marc Van Heerden’s freekick found Ndulula unmarked at the far post, but he was not able to get a good connection on the ball and his header went wide of goal.

Substitute Vuyani Ntanga came close to breaking the deadlock in the 71st minute when he was played through by a well-weighted pass from Mogorosi, but Zikalala came off his line quickly to make the block.

Five minutes later, it was Usuthu who came close to taking the lead from a freekick but Van Heerden saw his dipping effort curling wide of the upright.

Celtic substitutes almost combined to great effect in the 83rd minute when Lerato Lamola beat his marker on the left before cutting the ball back towards Ntanga, but he dragged his shot wide of goal.

Bloemfontein Celtic 0

AmaZulu 0

Teams:

Celtic: Tignyemb, Ndengane, Bilankulu, Nkausu, Daniels, Letlabika, Mogapi, Nyatama, Mogorosi, Gabonamong (Ntanga 65’), Mhango (Lamola 77’)

AmaZulu: Zikalala, Macala, Van Heerden, Teyise, Nyadombo, Madondo, Arwuah (Gamildien 79’), Dlamini G, Mthiyane, Dlamini A (Manqana 86’), Ndulula (Nguzana 75’)