Bulawayo Chiefs....... 0
Herentals FC .............0
Bulawayo Chiefs missed a golden opportunity to move up the table and tear away from the relegation zone after being held to a goalless stalemate by Herentals FC at Luveve Stadium.
Following a 2-0 defeat to Chicken Inn in the Bulawayo derby last week, Chiefs were hoping to gain ground and move above the drop zone.
With 30 points, a win would have taken them to 33, tying them with 13th-placed Green Fuel.
The first half was evenly balanced.
However, Bulawayo Chiefs were denied what looked like a genuine penalty claim which came against against the run of play.
In the 13th minute, Reason Sibanda was brutally brought down inside the box by Joseph Chitavira, but referee Owen Manenda surprisingly waved away the penalty appeals, leaving the Amakhosi players and coaching staff frustrated.
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In the 33rd minute, Erick Dombo delivered an inviting cross into the box for the visitors, which Ali Maliselo met with a powerful boot but his effort agonisingly struck the upright, leaving goalkeeper Prosper Mathuthu relieved.
The second half was a cagey affair and in added time, Dreamer Liyeto fired a powerful shot from outside the box, but Mathuthu spilled it, and substitute Milton Chimedza failed to bury the rebound.
"We played well, but there were moments when we were caught wanting. I thought we deserved three points. There were some calls I'd rather not comment on, and even the goal... I think we played well," Chiefs coach Thulani Sibanda said after the match
Herentals coach Celestino Benza was satisfied with the point gained.
"It's a good result, especially after two defeats. Collecting a point away from home was crucial for us. Our goal is to escape relegation and finish in a respectable position. Last season, we finished eighth, but we aim to better that, " said Benza.
