Football
Nick Said, Special to ESPN 6y

Goals dry up in PSL as Kaizer Chiefs thank lady luck against AmaZulu

There was a dearth of goals in South Africa's Premier Soccer League on Wednesday night with three of the four matches finishing in goalless draws and the other a 1-1 stalemate between Free State Stars and Chippa United.

Included was a 0-0 draw between AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs at a rain-soaked King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban, where the home side missed a penalty and the chance to send AmaKhosi to another defeat.

Rhulani Manzini had the opportunity to give AmaZulu all three points but drilled his shot low and straight, with the out-stretched leg of Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune making the stop.

The home side had been awarded the spot kick after Chiefs defender Siyabonga Ngezana was adjudged to have handled the ball in his own box, a tough call and perhaps justice was done.

There was little else to enthuse over in the game, Usuthu keeper Boafela Pule made a good stop to deny Gustavo Pule.

The home side finished the game with 10 men after a late red card for AmaZulu's Phumlani Gumede, who was fortunate not to be sent off for a earlier horror tackle on Bernard Parker, but clearly did not learn his lesson.

The draw was a third in a row for Chiefs, who are now three points behind leaders Baroka FC having played the same number of games.

However, perhaps more crucially they are also level on points with Mamelodi Sundowns, but have played three games more than the Brazilians.

There were also no goals between bottom side Platinum Stars and Bloemfontein Celtic in Phokeng, The result does mean that Stars move above champions Bidvest Wits, who are now propping up the division a third of the way through the campaign.

Stars shaded the play and thought they had an opener when Zambia international Brian Mwila had the ball in the back of the net, but his goal was ruled out for offside.

Robert Ng'ambi also had a late chance to seal the win, but spurned the opportunity.

It was also 0-0 between Polokwane City and Maritzburg United, with the latter having now not managed a goal from one of their own players in nine games in all competitions. It is becoming a crisis for the club.

The only goals that were scored on Wednesday came at Goble Park and were late in the game.

Stars thought they had grabbed a winner on 84 minutes when Edward Manqele came off the bench to find the back of the net, but three minutes later Chippa were level as James Okwuosa scored his first ever top-flight goal.

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