Cape Town City were denied victory in their MTN8 semifinal first leg by Swallows yesterday, with the Birds holding them to a goalless draw.
In an all-action clash at Athlone Stadium, the hosts had the better of the end-to-end drama, but the visitors will feel they have the advantage when they host the second leg on September 29.
The Citizens were frustrated by the dogged defence of the Birds, with Abdul Ajagun seeing the first real chance of the match smothered by the backline in the 17th minute.
The woodwork also came to the rescue for Swallows, when Abbubaker Mobara’s 25th-minute effort hit the crossbar when he snuck in unmarked at the back post from a Khanyisa Mayo free kick.
Then goalkeeper Virgil Vries had to be on his toes to tip a Mayo rocket tipped over in first-half injury time and Taariq Fielies failed to hit the target with a header from the resultant corner.
The Birds put their bodies on the line again to block Mdu Mdantsane’s goalbound effort five minutes after the break and before Vries saved from Mayo on the hour mark.
Ajagun was denied again seven minutes from time by Vries, who had to be at full stretch to save the Nigerian’s long-range strike.
The other semi is also locked in a stalemate after Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.