Downs keep up the pace

Michaelson Gumede

Absa Premiership pace-setters Mamelodi Sundowns had to come back from a goal down to earn themselves a hard-fought 2-1 win over Muhsin Ertugral’s struggling Ajax Cape Town last night at the Cape Town Stadium.

One of Ajax’s January signings, Fagrie Lakay, scored the opener 26 minutes into the game to hand the home side the lead with what was his first top-flight goal.

About 10 minutes later, referee Daniel Bennett pointed to the spot after adjudging Isaac Nhlapho to have handled the ball in the box.

It was defender Ricardo Nascimnento (below) who stepped up to take the penalty kick beating goalkeeper Brendan Peterson to put the Brazilians back on level terms.

Before the Urban Warriors could blink, Masandawana got their noses in front through Sibusiso Vilakazi, scoring his first league goal this season after benefiting from a sixth assist of the season from Percy Tau.

At the start of the second stanza, Ertugral was the first to turn to his bench when he introduced Zimbabwean international Gerald Takwara in the place of Rodrick Kabwe.

Former Sundowns forward Samuel Julies, another new Ajax signing, must have fancied his chances against Masandawana goalkeeper Denis Onyango. The last time the 26-year-old Julies went up against Downs, he came off the bench to score for Chippa United when they knocked Sundowns out of the Telkom Knockout last October. It was, however, not to be for Julies last night as he was kept at bay by the central pairing of Motjeka Madisha and Nascimento.

Pitso Mosimane handed Sundowns’ Multichoice Diski Challenge star Keletso Makgalwa his senior debut when he withdrew Vilakazi in the 75th minute. Mosimane then introduced defender Siyanda Zwanee in place of Thapelo Morena.

Masandawana have now played up all their catch up games and have opened a four-point lead over Cape Town City.