PSL play-offs now a two-horse race

The promotion/relegation playoffs has now boiled down to a two horse race between Ajax Cape Town and Black Leopards after Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) lost their third consecutive game.

TTM were thrashed 5-1 by the Urban Warriors at the Bidvest Stadium on Tuesday.

With that result, Ajax were able to draw level on points with Leopards on six points, but the Cape side remain on top of the three-team mini-legue by virtue of a better goal difference.

The win against TTM was vital for Ajax coach Calvin Marlin, even though his side started on a wrong foot as Tshakuma went into the break leading 1-0 before Ajax came back with guns blazing in the second stanza to score five unanswered goals.

“It was a very frustrating first 45 minutes the way we played. We were not playing according to instructions and lacked a bit of quality in midfield to get things going. A couple of changes in the first half by bringing on the youngster (Dale Wakefield) and that gave us a little bit of speed and emphasis up front,” said Marlin after the match.

“We made a double change in the second half and the boys came out firing.”

Meanwhile, TTM mentor Lucky Nelukau was once again disappointed with his charges.

He reckons his players were suffering from fatigue after managing to contain Ajax in the first half.

“It’s tough, we played good football in the first 45. Come second half, I don’t know (what happened), maybe they are tired and thinking of going home,” said Nelukau.

The clash between Ajax and Leopards will be a must-win for the Mother City club, their last match in the playoffs, while Leopards would still have a game in hand (against TTM).