Mamelodi Sundowns 0, Amazulu 0
There were a few good football moments from Mamelodi Sundowns in their first home match of the new Absa Premiership season, but these became a dim memory in the second half of yesterday's match against Amazulu.
It was a pity because Sundowns were expected to dish out some of the total football made famous by Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.
Downs' new coach, Johan Neeskens, was recommended to the club president Patrice Motsepe by Cruyff. He has made many changes since joining the club, but has yet to get the best out of Katlego Mphela and Teko Modise, even though the coach has claimed otherwise.
Judging by yesterday's stalemate, Neeskens is also struggling to find a hit man.
He is clearly not a fan of the team's most improved player, Matthew Pattison.
Pattison was left on the bench for a second successive match since the start of the season. He was also left out for Sundowns' MTN8 win against Bloemfontein Celtic more than a week ago.
Instead the coach has preferred new recruit Musa Nyatama in the creative midfield role. Although Nyatama is a good prospect for this season, the team lacked the creative edge that Pattison might have offered.
Nyatama also did not help his case when he missed what could have been a winner in the 86th minute, failing to convert a chance in the Amazulu penalty box.
As is the norm at Chloorkop, the fans then started demanding Nyatama's substitution.
In the first half, Sundowns had several chances to kill off the game against a tame-looking Usuthu. Mphela launched two powerful shots, but Amazulu keeper Tapuwa Kapini saved both.
Sundowns had about 75% of possession, but they were unable to put it to effective use.
Modise also had an attempt at goal, but his shot was brilliantly parried away for a corner kick by Kapini.
The best chance Sundowns had to score was in the 40th minute. Kapini came off his line, got hurt in the process and all Elias Pelembe had to do was guide the ball into the net. But he failed and the score remained 0-0.
The second half was more referee Zolile Mthetho's show. He dished out four yellow cards, making five in total, as challenges flew in.
Mphela also had a decent case for a penalty in the 48th minute, but the referee saw no reason to give it.
That frustrated Sundowns even more as they battled exceptional defending from Amazulu in the dying minutes.
Carlington Nyadombo of Usuthu got the man of the match award after unsettling Mphela and his striker partner Mabhuti Khenyeza.
Amazulu's best chance in the game fell to striker Tangeni Shipahu, who has stepped in for Usuthu's top scorer, Lehlohonolo Majoro, to Kaizer Chiefs.
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