A depleted FC AK and Dynamos drew 0-0 in their Promotion Play-offs semi-final first leg clash at Eldorado Park on Wednesday afternoon.

The teams meet in the second leg at Polokwane's Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday. The winner between FC AK and Dynamos will meet the side that triumphs in the other play-off match between Black Leopards and Bay United in the other two-legged play-off semi-final next week.

Dynamos coach Innocent Mayoyo said: "Playing at home on Sunday will give us an edge. But I was not happy with the draw. We should have won."

FC AK mentor Ali Akan, meanwhile, was philosophical: "I was forced to field a patched up side but we're still in with a chance in the second leg."

On this showing, neither side looked PSL material. At least FC AK had excuses. They had completed two tough matches against Maritzburg United for the National First Division title and promotion to the Absa Premiership last week and have a string of injuries. It showed in their jaded performance.

But Dynamos, after creating countless chances, will fancy their odds at home on Sunday. They were on top in a disappointing first half. The Limpopo-based club created a lot more goal-scoring chances, but were thwarted by some inspired goalkeeping from AK's Oscar Ramogoadi.

The home side's cause was not helped by an injured Charles Yohane who, owing to other more serious injuries in the club, was forced to play in a crucial central defensive role.

The former Zimbabwean international and BidVest Wits star was in trouble from the kick-off. He failed to deal with a long through ball inside the first minute and allowed Alois Ngwerume to test Ramogoadi.

Seven minutes, later Yohane failed to deal with a high ball and his weak back header fell to Joseph Mthombeni. But once again the AK FC goalkeeper denied Dynamos a breakthrough with another top-class save.

AK FC winger Mark McVeigh should have put the home side ahead in the 21stminute after he collected a clever cross from Justice Sithole. But McVeigh, the former Moroka Swallows, player shot over the cross-bar from close range.

Then came a succession of saves and misses from Dynamos. Mthombeni was wide in the 24th minute. He wasted another chance when Ramogoadi parried his shot after some good work from teammate Louis Agyemang on 35 minutes.

Agyemang had a good effort that flew over the cross-bar a minute from the break, but a minute later Ramogoadi did well to stick out his leg and deflect Ngwerume's shot. From the rebound, Zweli Silawule's effort was also saved by the home side's in-form 'keeper.

Agyemang, the former Kaizer Chiefs player, hit the woodwork seven minutes after the break as Dynamos kept up the pressure.

Silawule was rather fortunate not to have been given a red card for a reckless challenge on Ramogoadi in the 56th minute. The Dynamos midfielder was booked instead by referee Jerome Damon for his poor challenge that could have injured the FC AK goalkeeper.

The second half was even duller than the first. The only real excitement came in the 73rd minute when Dynamos keeper Swadick Sanudi did well to palm away a wicked free-kick from Mzondi Mthombeni in the 73rd minute.

But with both sides tiring, the match ground out to a listless goalless draw.

Sapa