Kaizer Chiefs missed out on the chance to go fourth in the DStv Premiership after playing out to a goalless draw with 10-man TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Glamour Boys created by far the better chances in the first half but they were unable to make use of their numerical advantage when Marks Munyai was sent off in the 57th minute and the Rockets kept them at bay for the remainder of the match to come away with an unlikely point.
Amakhosi remain fifth in the standings, although they are now tied with arch-rivals Orlando Pirates on 28 points, with Sead Ramovic’s side one point outside the top eight in 10th position.
Galaxy came into the clash seeking their first-ever win over Chiefs, having beaten them twice in the cup competitions, while the Soweto giants looked to build on their first victory of 2023 against Royal AM last time out.
Arthur Zwane’s side made a bright start in Mbombela and threatened to break the deadlock in the 11th minute when Keagan Dolly forced Vasilije Kolak into a fine save with his strike from inside the area before Sfiso Hlanti failed to hit the target with a header from Dolly’s 17th-minute free-kick.
Ashley Du Preez was just inches away from opening the scoring with a shot from inside the box that flew wide of the right post on 29 minutes and the hosts had their first sniff at goal two minutes later as Djakaridja Traore drew a save out of Brandon Petersen with a header from Orebotse Mongaes cross.
Mduduzi Shabalala then dragged a shot wide of the left post from range in the 35th minute and Hlanti managed to test Kolak with another long-range strike on 39 minutes in what was the final action of the first half.
Galaxy suffered a setback early in the second half when Munyai picked up two yellow cards for poor challenges in the space of 10 minutes and received his marching orders in the 57th minute.
Tempers soon flared as Petersen was booked for his involvement in a tussle after Pogiso Sanoka had made a bad tackle on Siyabonga Ngezana.
Once the situation calmed down, Chiefs looked to make the extra man count as Siyethemba Sithebe and Yusuf Maart tried their luck from distance but neither managed to trouble Kolak.
Christian Saile steered a header just wide of the left post from Edmilson Dove’s cross 11 minutes from time and despite some late pressure, Galaxy held on for a point.