Kaizer Chiefs fought hard to earn a well-deserved point after they drew 0-0 with Moroka Swallows in a lightning storm-interrupted DStv Premiership encounter at FNB stadium on Saturday, in which they were reduced to 10 men after Edmilson Dove was sent off early in the second half.

The opening 45 minutes produced very little goalmouth action, as both teams were unable to mount any meaningful attacks. Amakhosi had the better of the general play, particularly down the left flank, where happy Mashiane put in a few dangerous crosses that were dealt with by the Swallows defenders.

Chiefs did have the ball in the net midway through the half when Ashley Du Preez scored from a rebound after Ranga Chivaviro’s excellent header from Kegan Dolly’s pin point cross was parried into his path by Dube Birds goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi.

However, Du Preez was adjudged to be offside and the goal was not awarded. For the most part, the first half was an attritional battle and it was no surprise that the teams went into the break at 0-0. Barely two minutes after the restart, Amakhosi found themselves down to 10 men when Dove, who had cut a commanding figure until then, was sent off for a foul on Gabadinho Mhango.

A quick through ball from Swallows midfielder Tlakusani Mthethwa boke Chiefs’ high line offside trap to put Mhango clean though on goal. In a desperate attempt to deny him a clear goalscoring opportunity, the Mozambican ‘took one for the team’ and brought him down just outside the box.

Mhango smashed the resulting free kick into the wall. Coach Johnson brought on Dillan Solomons for Keagan Dolly and shifted Zitha Kwinika into central defence to allow for Solomons to take up the right back role in a reconfigured defence.