Zakri delivers that special thing

AJAX CAPE TOWN breathed a huge sigh of relief when the referee’s final whistle signaled an end to a difficult match and confirmed their 1-0 victory over Wits at Athlone Stadium yesterday.

The Cape side didn’t come to play good football yesterday, they let Wits do all the playing. The plan was to keep things compact and to play with a solid defensive shape and structure. And, on the break, they let the pace and energy of Yannick Zakri and Fagrie Lakay unsettle the opposition defence.

There was no doubt early on that the pressure of the situation had got to Ajax. While they kept things tight defensively, they were just a bundle of nerves in attack. There were some promising moments from Zakri and Lakay, but the final decisive moment was missing. At the other end, the Clever Boys showed that they had clearly come to make things difficult for the struggling Capetonians as Thabang Monare crashed an attempt wide and goalkeeper Jody February did well to cut out a dangerous-looking cross from Nazeer Allie.

Ajax were always going to need something special to galvanize things, and they got it from the exciting Ivorian Zakri. Latching on to a pass from Lakay, the forward sped passed a few Wits defenders and coolly tucked the ball into the net. It was the goal the Urban Warriors desperately needed, not just with regards to the result but also to calm down the boiling emotions of everyone in the squad.

Wits dominated proceedings, but they never really looked like they could break down the Cape sides resolute defence. Monare and Vincent Pule went close, and just before the break, Lehlohonolo Majoro thudded the ball against the cross bar from close in.

Ajax were always threatening on the counter, though, and they were unfortunate not to add to their advantage as Tercious Malepe hoofed a shot wide and Lakay had a swerving shot brilliantly saved by Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet. Five minutes before the close, after another swift counter, Lakay should really have sealed it, but ballooned the ball over the bar.