MTN8: Cape Town City held by Moroka Swallows at Athlone Stadium
MTN8: Cape Town City held by Moroka Swallows at Athlone Stadium
The goalless draw is the second for the Citizens in this new season after registering the first one against SuperSport United in the league
Cape Town City and Moroka Swallows managed to register a 0-0 draw in their MTN8 first leg semi-final encounter on Sunday at the Athlone Stadium.
Despite being an end-to-end engagement, none of the sides was able to break the deadlock and take advantage of the first leg encounter before the next duel.
Swallows began the game as the stronger side as they had registered three shots on Cape Town City's goal, but were unable to find the back of the net within three minutes.
Siphelele Ndlovu breached Cape Town City's defence in the seventh minute before he spotted unmarked Ruzaigh Gamildien, but his pass to the attacking midfielder was intercepted by regrouping home side defenders.
Sipho Sibiya saved the day for Swallows in the 16th minute when he managed to block Cape City's counter-attack that was engineered by four players against two from the visiting side.
Mbulelo Wambi tried to trick the Cape Town goalkeeper Hugo Miguel in the 17th minute by pretending to fire into the right corner, but later took an about-turn and tried to find the opposite corner, only for the Angolan goalkeeper to make a quick adjustment and stop the shot.
Eric Tinkler's side came close to breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute when Khanyisa Mayo's delivery landed on Abbubaker Mobara's path, but the latter's shot at the edge of the box was blocked by the opponents.
Cape Town City, who had spent a number of minutes launching relentless attacks, committed a foul in the 30th minute when Swallows broke on a counter-attack. Gamildien's free-kick hit the wall though, and Swallows' chance to get an opener was consequently lost.
Bradley Ralani made a clever turn in the 40th minute before releasing his attacking midfield teammate Abdul Ajagun, whose final shot was blocked by Swallows' backline. Mobara saved Cape Town City from going down in the 46th minute when his outstanding interception blocked Dillon Solomons' effort.
Swallows made changes in the 63rd minute with Ndlovu coming off and Matlala Keletso Makgalwa replaced him before George Matlou and Mphakamiseni Nene took Mwape Musonda and Mbulelo Wambi's positions thereafter.
In the 86th minute, Taariq Fielies made a vital block for the Citizens with an interception that cleared a goal-bound shot by a rejuvenated Swallows.
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