A Limpopo derby between Venda Football Club and Baroka FC ended in a goalless stalemate in the Motsepe Foundation Championship at Thohoyandou Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Playing at home in wet conditions, Venda FC created the better chances throughout the match and nearly made an immediate breakthrough as early as the second minute, but their finishing let them down.
Venda continued to push for a winner late in the match, and substitute Tau Rankoko came closest in the final 10 minutes. Rankoko took too long to sort his feet out inside the box, allowing the Baroka defence to recover and clear the danger.
Baroka, however, had a golden opportunity to steal all three points with their only clear-cut chance of the game. David Mothibi found himself with the goal at his mercy but fired his effort wide with the net beckoning.
The hosts also handed youngster Mudodzwa Nemutshetoni his debut in added time, but neither side could find the breakthrough as the derby finished 0–0.
The result sees Venda move up one place to seventh on goal difference in the standings, while Baroka remain 15th in the relegation zone, three points behind Midlands Wanderers in 14th.
Next up, Venda travel to Pretoria to face University of Pretoria on Sunday, 15 March, while Baroka will host Hungry Lions F.C. on Saturday, 14 March.