It’s crisis times for the Urban Warriors, and now surely they need to start panicking
SURELY, now it’s time to panic, Ajax Cape Town. Victory continues to elude Ajac after they were defeated 2-1 by Wits at Cape Town Stadium last night.
Six league games into the PSL season, Ajax are yet to win a game. Add to that, the fact that they crashed out of the Telkom Knockout at the weekend, and it’s crisis times.
Last night, both sides kept things tight and risk-free. This, though, made for a disjointed opening; possession was regularly turned over with aimless passing and there was little fluidity or continuity.
It needed something special to remind everyone that they were actually involved in a high-profile football match.
Mark Mayambela’s run and shot was deflected into the path of teammate Prince Nxumalo, who was through on goal, but Victory Gomes blew for a foul on Mayambela. The Urban Warriors were livid.
But their anger turned to joy as, from the resultant freekick, Erick Chipeta swept in a delightful curling strike.
The goal sparked the game into life and Wits found their feet towards the end of the first half. The Clever Boys came out in the second as if coach Gavin Hunt had sent the Furies after them.
Wits were energised and purposeful and they placed Ajax under all sorts of pressure. Opportunities accrued, but the Students couldn’t convert their dominance.
And then, during this period of superiority for Wits, it was Ajax who had an inviting chance to increase their advantage. Nxumalo latched onto a loose ball, stormed in on goal, but his shot was magnificently saved by Darren Keet.
Something had to give for Wits, though, and it came 20 minutes before fulltime. Captain Thulani Hlatshwayo powered a header against the crossbar and Eleazar Rodgers was on hand to steer in the rebound.
The game then looked set for a 1-1 draw, but the visitors had other ideas when Mogakolodi Ngele crashed in the winner a minute before the final whistle.