Zakri proves to be the catalyst for Ajax

IF AJAX CAPE TOWN continue to produce this level of football, then the spectre of relegation will soon be a thing of the past. The Cape side defeated SuperSport United 2-0 at Athlone Stadium yesterday to ease their way out of the bottom two positions on the league standings.

It was the return to the starting team of the energetic Yannick Zakri that proved to be the catalyst for Ajax’s greater impetus in attack. The Ivory Coast forward, together with the pace of 20-year-old Fagrie Lakay, caused havoc in the SuperSport defence. The Cape side played with superb commitment and made it evident that they were desperate for the points. They should, in fact, have been ahead in the opening five minutes when they created two good chances, but Zakri’s close-in effort was smothered by SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and, moments later, when Toriq Losper drifted a cross into the area, the keeper had to make another save to stop a deflected header from Clayton Daniels.

For Ajax, though, to make the effort and industry of the team worthwhile, they needed a goal. And they got it five minutes into the second half when Losper created the opening for Lakay, and the youngster thundered in a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

The Urban Warriors got the second goal they wanted when Williams spilled Rodrick Kabwe’s cross, and Mario Booysen reacted quickest for a simple tap-in. The Cape side could have got a third when substitute Tendai Ndoro was clean through on goal, but Williams pulled off a wonderful save to deny the Zimbabwean.