Ajax hit the mark as Downs collapse

AJAX Cape Town made it two victories on the trot with a 2-0 Absa Premiership win over Mamelodi Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium last night.

Thabo Mosadi and Ndiviwe Mdabuka found the back of the net in two second-half minutes as the Urban Warriors secured their first home win of the campaign, to remain above Free State Stars – who beat Platinum Stars at the same time – on the log standings.

With ‘CBD’ on the bench, Pitso Mosimane kept faith with the front three that ripped Highlands Park apart last weekend.

Ajax, though, enjoyed the better of the early exchanges with the hosts – coming off their first win of the season – creating a catalogue of chances in the opening half-hour. Ajax could have opened the scoring in the first minute, with Mdabuka unable to hit the target having found a pocket of space on the edge of the area.

Mark Mayambela then squandered two chances in quick succession, with the wing-wizard first forcing Denis Onyango into a smart save in the 20th minute.

The former Orlando Pirates man sent a gilt-edged chance off target in the 28th minute.

Mosadi skipped past his marker down the right flank before setting up his teammate, who saw his volley attempt go wide of goal.

Mdabuka darted into the area a minute later, the powerful midfielder seeing his resulting shot rattle the side-netting.

Puskás Award nominee Hlompho Kekana went closest to an opener in the first stanza.

The Sundowns skipper stripped Travis Graham of the ball before unleashing a fierce effort that had Jody February beaten – but not the crossbar – with 35 minutes on the clock.

Back in the starting line-up, Rivaldo Coetzee was back at his brilliant best throughout the encounter, with the Bafana Bafana defender making a superb lastditch tackle that denied Percy Tau a sure goal eight minutes after the break.

Ajax hit the front through Mosadi in the 71st minute, the former AmaTuks man left with a simple tap-in following a ball across the face of goal by Bantu Mzawkali.

The Urban Warriors doubled their lead two minutes later through Mdabuka.

Similar to the opener, the goal stemmed from the right flank with Mayambela leaving Thabo Nthethe in his wake before finding his teammate with a precise ball through Onyango’s legs, 2-0.

“CBD” were back in business in the final 15 minutes of the clash, with Leonardo Castro forcing February into a good save in the second minute of stoppage-time. But Ajax’s defence held firm as they secured all three points on offer. — BackpageTXT