For the second time this season Swallows and Cape Town City played to a goalless draw, this time at Dobsonville Stadium in Friday’s only DStv Premiership match.
A notable absentee on the bench was Swallows head coach Brandon Truter, who has been given special leave by the club, and assistant Simo Dladla was named as acting head coach.
An early chance fell to the home team in the fourth minute, but Kagiso Malinga’s header was off target, while Surprise Ralani went close for City in the 13th minute, but Virgil Vries got a touch to the shot. Nathan Fasika’s header from the resulting corner was high and wide.
Khethukuthula Ndlovu’s shot was on target for Swallows in the 25th minute, but Hugo Marques got down well to make the save, and Marques made a save from Junaid Sait’s header two minutes later, before the Angolan national team goalkeeper found Fagrie Lakay with a long pass, who saw his effort saved by Vries.
Abdul Ajagun tried from outside the area in the 41st minute but his shot flew over the goal. While Tebogo Langerman’s free kick in the 45th minute forced Marques into making another save.
Goalless at half-time, Malinga had a great chance from a free kick in the 48th minute, but Marques made an excellent low save. Dillon Solomons had an opportunity two minutes later, but he blasted it over.
Lakay was narrowly wide in the 58th minute, while ten minutes later Marques made another save at the other end from Malinga.
Marques made another good save from Malinga in the 82nd minute, and was also in the right place to stop Sipho Sibiya’s header in the 88th minute.
Taariq Fielies had a chance a minute later for City, but it went straight to Vries, while George Matlou’s stoppage time effort was off target.
Points shared today, but the two teams meet again at the same venue on Wednesday in the second leg of their MTN8 semi-final, having previously played to a goalless draw at Athlone Stadium last month in the first leg.
