Cape Town - The Absa Premiership KwaZulu-Natal derby failed to live up to expectations with AmaZulu and Maritzburg United playing to a goalless draw in Umlazi on Tuesday.

Early on it was mainly AmaZulu in charge as Siyethemba Sithebe and Bongi Ntuli sent half-chances over the bar and straight at the goalkeeper respectively.

The first major chance was at the other end after 13 minutes when Keletso Makgalwa slipped Yannick Zakri through on goal, but after rounding Siyabonga Mbatha, the Ivorian saw his effort cleared off the line.

Zakri then set Makgalwa up from the rebound, with the shot is blazed over from the edge of the area. The pressure then turned to the other end with Emiliano Tade sliding the ball through for an onrushing Marc van Heerden, the Bafana Bafana defender thumping a shot off target.

The Argentine had two chances of his own before the interval, wastefully heading an inviting left-sided cross from van Heerden wide and also dribbling past two players, before firing a 30-yard drive over.

After the restart Justice Figuareido did excellently to cut into the box and shoot, but Mbatha was alert to the danger and tipped the ball over.

At the other end, Nhlanhla Vilakazi thumped over from outside the box, before the home goalkeeper made another excellent save low to his right to stop a stinging shot from Figuareido.

With 10 minutes to play, Sithebe dragged just wide of Richard Ofori's goal, while Figuareido landed a tame strike straight at Mbatha.

Then in stoppage time, Morton could have won it, only to rushingly bundle over as the game ended goalless.