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The race to play in the top flight is still wide open, with three fixtures to go in the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs after University of Pretoria and Swallows played to a goalless draw in Pretoria yesterday.
The share of the spoils means that AmaTuks, as the University of Pretoria team are popularly known, retain their top spot in the three-team contest.
Swallows, who condemned Cape Town All Stars to their second defeat midweek, are level on points with AmaTuks but remain second because of goal difference in the top two.
All Stars are bottom of the mini-league and it is not a foregone conclusion that the Cape side are out of contention.
In an almost impossible task, All Stars must beat AmaTuks and Swallows in their remaining games, and hope that their two opponents draw in the final fixture of the play-offs.
The team that finishes top of the mini league on points will join promoted Richards Bay in the DStv Premiership next season.
Playing before a decent and lively crowd at the university campus stadium yesterday, Swallows and AmaTuks went put the pedal to the metal.
Clear goal-scoring opportunities were few and far between until the closing stages of the match.
Substitute Kamohelo Mahlatsi could have won the match for Swallows, but his header hit the post the 93rd minute.
Seconds later, AmaTuks had their own glorious chance to snatch maximum points at the death, but Nigerian forward Etiosa Ighodaro headed narrowly wide.
Ighodaro's header agonisingly close buy the ball sails past the upright and the referee calls time
— AmaTuks (@AmaTuks) June 4, 2022
AmaTuks, who opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over All Stars last weekend, will have another opportunity to pull away when they host the Cape side at the same venue on Wednesday.
A win will put the university outfit in pole position for a return to the Premiership after a six-year absence.
After two intense play-off matches in four days, Swallows face a daunting trip to the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, where All Stars will be waiting.
After losing their opening two matches, All Stars will be playing for pride as they have nothing to lose.
Of the three contestants, there is no doubt that Swallows are under intense pressure.
The Birds finished 15th in the Premiership and the play-offs present the last chance for the Soweto club to avoid slipping back into the lower ranks following their revival three seasons ago.
READ: ‘More relegation for Swallows may be best’
Should everything go according to the script, the Swallows-AmaTuks final match at Lucas Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville on June 15 could decide who claims the last berth in the premier division.
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