Maritzburg United and Stellenbosch settled for a share of the spoils on Sunday evening, although their clash was halted twice due to the floodlights switching off at the Harry Gwala Stadium.
Result: Maritzburg United 0-0 Stellenbosch
Date: 12 December 2021
Venue: Harry Gwala Stadium
The Team of Choice handed Leletu Skelem his first start against his former side in the only change from the defeat against Cape Town City while Stellies recalled Judas Moseamedi, also against his former team.
Maritzburg were on the front foot in the opening exchanges, with Skelem in the thick of things upfront but the hosts could not create clear openings.
Stellies were threatening on counter-attacks and had a chance just before the half-hour mark after Ashley Du Preez played David van Rooyen through on goal but his attempt across goal missed wide and the sides cancelled each other out, as they went to the half-time break goalless.
Steve Barker made a tactical change at half-time, as attacking midfielder Antonio Van Wyk replaced defender Athenkosi Mcaba and Van Wyk had the first shot on target ten minutes inside the second second stanza that forced a save out of goalkeeper Marcel Engelhardt.
The game was paused in the 65th minute, with both set of teams having to leave the field with the floodlights switching off for the second time in the game.
After a reset of generators, the lights switched back on and both set of players had warm-ups before resuming to play and Junior Mendieta thought he had given the visitors the lead five minutes later after finding the back of the net but his goal was disallowed for offside.
The flow of the match was interrupted again with 16 minutes remaining, as the floodlights switched off for the third time but after a few minutes play resumed.
Barker made a change immediately after that, as Molahlehi Khunyedi replaced Mendieta for fresh legs in attack and Khunyedi came close to snatching the winner just after coming on with a strike on the edge of the box that missed narrowly wide and the sides shared the spoils, with Stellies going up to fifth.
Maritzburg: 31. Engelhardt, 17. Claasen, 27. Ndengane, 16. Ritchie, 10. Human, 15. Ntshangase, 22. Skelem, 6. Graham, 8. Kewuti, 21. Hlongwane, 22. Theron.
Subs: 1. Petersen, 46. McDonald, 5. Daniels, 11. Soukouna, 44. Dlamuka, 25. Ismail, 41. Cele, 24. Bhengu.
Stellenbosch: 17. Stephens, 24. Kwinika, 26. Mcaba, 7. Van Rooyen, 3. Letsoenyo, 4. De Geode, 17. Jabaar, 19. Sinkala, 25. Moseamedi, 9. Du Preez, 10. Mendieta
Subs: 34. Bombay, 27. Titus, 5. Mthethwa, 21. Isaacs, 11. Khunyedi, 20. Robertson, 4. Johannes, 29. Van Wyk, 8. Van Heerden
