Benteke a done deal for Liverpool, while United’s Cavani pursuit is derailed

FOR THEsecond time in three months, Mamelodi Sundowns got the better of Ajax Cape Town in a final. Yesterday in Atteridgeville, Pretoria, in the climax of a four-team charity tournament, Sundowns’ vast experience and class had too much firepower for a rookie Ajax line-up in a 3-1 victory.

In May earlier this year, in the final of the Nedbank Cup in Port Elizabeth, Sundowns defeated Ajax on penalties after the match had ended in a goalless draw.

In yesterday’s pre-season event, in the opening semi-finals, Sundowns defeated the University of Pretoria 2-0, while Ajax defeated newly-promoted Jomo Cosmos by the same scoreline, courtesy of two goals from Bantu Mzwakali, pictured above.

Ajax fielded two different starting teams in the event, giving a number of new, emerging youngsters much-needed big-game exposure in the final against Sundowns. The Cape side started with no fewer than eight under-19 players, leaving just Franklin Cale, Aidan Jenniker and Toriq Losper to provide the experience against top-quality opponents like Sundowns.

Five players promoted last month to the Ajax Premier Soccer League (PSL) squad from the club’s hugely successful youth development academy were included from the start – goalkeeper Darren Johnson, Sergio Kammies, Reagan Jacobs, Masilake Phohlongo and Justin Jacobus. Also included were two footballers from last season’s promoted crop, Olwethu Nguye and Yagan Sasman, as well as trialist Marcelo Mendes, a young South Africanborn defender, who has spent some time playing in Denmark.

The Ajax youth brigade showed some neat touches on the ball, but their inexperience cost them when Sundowns took the lead in the 10th minute. The entire Ajax side was caught ball-watching in the penalty area from a Lebogang Mokoena corner, and the Pretoria side’s Zimbabwean striker, Cuthbert Malajila, took advantage to score an easy goal.

The Capetonians weathered the early storm from Sundowns and, with five minutes to go to halftime, they were level. The lively Cale whipped in a free-kick and Sundowns defender Mario Booysen, with the sun in his eyes, headed the ball into his own net. But Ajax’s joy was to be short-lived as, two minutes later, the Pretoria team took a 2-1 lead when Liberian forward Anthony Laffor was left unmarked in the penalty area for the easiest of headers beyond a despairing Johnson.

Sundowns proceeded to dominate the second period and it was no surprise when they increased their advantage in the 68th minute, with Malajila netting his second goal of the match.

For Ajax, though, the result won’t matter all that much. Head coach Roger de Sa’s main objective, on announcing such a young team, would have been to blood the novices and give them an opportunity to experience playing against the seasoned campaigners in the Sundowns side. LIVERPOOL moved into pole position to sign the Belgium international when they banished their initial reservations about his value and decided to meet the release clause in his contract on Thursday.

Benteke, pictured, for whom personal terms will be a formality, could not press ahead with a medical assessment until Liverpool had finalised a plan with Aston Villa on how they would structure the payments. After lengthy negotiations, they have now made a breakthrough with the first instalment paid to Villa set to be £16m.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s chief executive, worked through into the early hours of yesterday, here in Australia in discussions with Villa chief executive Tom Fox in order to deliver manager Brendan Rodgers the player he has coveted all summer and whom he has admired for more than 18 months. Liverpool’s club doc- tor Andy Massey will now fly back to England to oversee the tests in London and should all go according to plan, Benteke will be able to start his new career with Liverpool at their Melwood training base.

It has been decided it would be asking too much to fly Benteke out to Malaysia to join Liverpool’s squad for the final game of their pre-season tour in Kuala Lumpur on Friday and instead he will work with Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho, who are due back at Melwood on Wednesday.

Meanwhile Aston Villa have opened talks with Tottenham over the proposed transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Manager Tim Sherwood has earmarked the 31-year-old as a replacement for Liverpool-bound Christian Benteke. Tottenham want around £4 million for Adebayor but the stumbling block is his wages of £100 000-a-week. Villa hope to arrange a deal where bonuses can supplement Adebayor’s wages.

Manchester United have been dealt a blow in their pursuit of Edinson Cavani after the forward’s agent claimed he was happy to stay at Paris SaintGermain.

With PSG hoping to swoop for United’s unsettled midfielder Angel di Maria, the Red Devils were interested in landing the Uruguay star. – Daily Mail