JOHANNESBURG - Kaizer Chiefs rose one place to fourth and Royal AM five positions to fifth after they drew 0-0 on Saturday in a South African Premiership match of missed chances.
Chiefs gave a first start to Colombian forward Jasond Gonzalez, but he was substituted in the second half after failing to break down a Royal defence backed up by superb goalkeeper Xolani Ngcobo.
His replacement, Congolese Christian Saile, came closest to breaking the stalemate in Johannesburg soon after, striking the far post with a shot with Ngcobo beaten.
Chiefs are hoping Gonzalez, who joined from Bolivian club Real Sante Cruz, can have the same impact as several South Americans at dominant Premiership club Mamelodi Sundowns.
Less than two months into the season, Sundowns' new Brazilian forward Lucas Ribeiro has scored four times in the Premiership and twice in the CAF Champions League.
While Chiefs climbed the table, they are 10 points behind Sundowns after just six rounds in the richest African national league with a 15 million rand ($790,000/€740,000) first prize.
Without a trophy since winning the 2015 Premiership, Chiefs have four chances to end the drought this season. Apart from the league, they will be involved in three knockout competitions.
After taking only one point from a possible nine at the start of the Premiership campaign, Arrows have stabilised under Malawian coach John Maduka, winning twice before holding Chiefs.
Meanwhile, second-placed Golden Arrows were involved in another 0-0 draw, at home to lower-half Stellenbosch near Durban, and trail Sundowns by seven points.