Night of shared spoils

It was an evening of stalemates for Premier Soccer League teams as all three matches failed to produce winners last night.

Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs played to a goalless draw against Bloemfontein Celtic at Free State Stadium and Mamelodi Sundows fought out a 2-all draw against Ajax Cape Town, also on the road.

BidVest Wits drew 1-1 with AmaZulu at home.

As the groundsmen scrambled for sand to patch up the shocking Free State Stadium pitch last night, Chiefs struggled against Celtic.

The draw means Amakhosi have again failed in their efforts to keep the momentum going.

Both clubs have now played five league matches, with Chiefs climbing to fifth place on the log after two wins, two draws and one defeat.

Celtic will temporarily push up to ninth spot with one victory, two defeats and two draws.

While they looked threatening early in the match, with coach Stuart Baxter opting to leave key striker Bernard Parker on the bench, Chiefs just did not do enough to earn the maximum points.

This was not a stand-out performance from the home side either. Phunya SeleSele are also searching for their first victory in their own back yard following a defeat to Sundowns on the league's opening day and a stalemate against rivals Free State Stars.

Clinton Larsen cannot seem to mastermind a victory against the Glamour Boys.

The Celtic coach is yet to guide his team to a win over Chiefs since taking charge of the club in August 2010.

It could have all turned out differently if Amakhosi defender Morgan Gould had hit the target with his header in the eighth minute after connecting with a corner kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala.

Those watching were aware that the players from both teams battled to adapt to the poor pitch throughout the 90 minutes and groundsmen made their way onto the field at halftime for to apply a quick-fix to the patchy grass.

Itumeleng Khune was only tested once in goal by Vuyani Ntanga on the stroke of halftime.

The visitors were in command but lacked the firepower upfront.

Even when Baxter threw in all his strikers, including Parker, the forwards seem to have left their scoring boots at home.

Mark Gleeson reports from the Mother City that Downs missed out on a chance to go level on top of the log after their draw against Ajax at the Cape Town Stadium.

The match was characterised by some frenetic action and a controversial penalty.

The visitors had to fight back after going 2-1 down midway through the second half when Nathan Paulse conned a penalty out of referee Lwandile Mfiki that Lebogang Manyama converted to put Ajax ahead.

Cuthbert Malajila rescued a point for the Brazilians with a typical predator's goal in the 81st minute for a deserved draw.

Sundowns took the lead as Ajax went to sleep in defence and allowed the visitors a rare opening with Bongani Zungu taking a shot across the goalkeeper from the right side to score easily.

That 52nd minute effort was cancelled out four minutes later when Keegan Dolly caught Kennedy Mweene at his near post.

"We were playing against millionaires but my youngsters were amazing with their work," said a fiery Muhsin Ertugral afterwards.

But he will know they were lucky to get a penalty when Pause went down under a challenge from Alje Schut when it was clear the Dutch defender pulled out of the tackle.

Khama Billiat hit the post twice on his return to the Mother City.

Bantu Mzwakali, making his first appearance at the age of 19 for Ajax, looked like he had been in the PSL for years.

He came mightily close when he struck the crossbar with a free kick four minutes from the interval.