Maritzburg had travelled to Peter Mokaba Stadium on the back of some good form, seeing them unbeaten so far this season with two wins and three draws.

Leopards, meanwhile, came into the match with a win and two draws under their belts.

The match lacked decisive moments in the first half. Leopards striker Rodney Ramagalela was caught offside more times than he was on the right side of the defenders, which didn’t help his team’s causes.

Lidoda Duvha had the first chance on goal when Ramagalela beat the defence for pace, but he let himself down by shooting over the bar.

In the sixteenth minute Kurt Lentjies narrowly missed the target with a curling free kick after Samuel Mabunda conceded a foul.

Then Diyo Sibisi had the ball in the back of the net for Maritzburg United via a header from Peter Petersen’s cross, but the striker was adjudged to have pushed one of the Leopards defenders and the goal was disallowed.

Eight minutes before the half time break, Maritzburg coach Ian Palmer brought on Michael Morton for Wayne Matle who seemed to have picked up a slight knock.

A minute later Lentjies has an attempt on goal, but Omony did well to tip his effort around the post and on the stroke of half time Nkhatha headed over the bar from a corner.

The start of the second half was devoid of any goal mouth action and the match began getting tense with Rheece Evans going into the referee’s book for a studs-up tackle on Moses Kwena.

Then in the 66th minute, Mabunda sent Ramagalela one-on-one with Shuaib Walters, but the big striker missed the target by a long way with his left foot.

Leopards substitute Diala Manaka came close after 79 minutes, but his effort just went wide of the upright, highlighting what had been a frustrating afternoon for both sets of players, especially in the final third of the field.

Leopards: Omony – Kwena, Khoza, Mabusela, Xakane – Mapolisa, Bobe, Mabunda (Manaka 70’), Banda – Ramagalela, Nkhatha (Lungu 47’)

Maritzburg: Walters – Petersen, Hendricks, Diouf, Sosibo – Madondo (Olomu 72’), Matle (Morton 38’), Evans, Lentjies – Obada - Sibisi (Booysen 90’)