Thanda Royal Zulu lived to fight another day after the Durban based PSL outfit drew 0-0 against First Division Mpumalanga Black Aces in a PSL promotion/relegation first leg playoff final at Ackerville Stadium on Sunday.

Aces were the more positive side and should have won but they failed to capitalise on the opponents who appeared to have come for a 0-0 draw and got it.

TRZ, who finished 15th in the Absa Premiership, still need to do the business in Durban next Sunday in the second leg when they host the ambitious Aces in the second leg of the playoff final. The winner over the two legs will play in the Premiership next season.

Aces could regret the fact they failed to score against a side that lacked urgency and seemed content to go through the motions and frustrate the home side.

Aces controlled the opening half but failed to get the breakthrough they worked so hard for and deserved. Thanda were content to sit back and allow Aces to come at them.

Aces hard working winger Jacob Machaka was narrowly wide with a great effort in the 17th minutes. Two minutes later teammate Setjhaba Mmuso chipped his shot over the TRZ crossbar as Aces piled on the pressure.

Aces were thwarted when Mododa Motha's shot crashed off the crossbar in the 28th minute after a bad mistake from Thanda captain James Madidilani, playing in an unfamiliar defensive midfield role.

Midfielder Lehumo Itsegetseng was causing the TRZ defence plenty of problems and came close to opening Aces account but his 41st minute but his shot screamed over the crossbar.

Machaka came close again on the stroke of half-time when his shot scraped the paintwork on the TRZ woodwork.

Thanda did not have a serious shot at Aces goal and were happy to end the first half goalless.

Itsegetseng almost broke the deadlock when his looping shot-cum cross inched past the upright on 65 minutes.

TRZ's first real shot in anger came from Felix Obada who hit the side netting a minute later. TRZ's tactics of frustrating Aces was underlined by the fact that their only corner came after 72minutes.

But both teams have everything to play for in what will be a different ball game in Durban in the second leg.

Sapa

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