Ajax trounce TTM in playoffs

An Eleazor Rodgers hat-trick helped Ajax Cape Town bounce back from being 1-0 down to winning their promotion/relegation playoff tie 5-1 against Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) at the Bidvest Stadium yesterday.

TTM made a bright start to the match as Thembisani Nevhulamba gave the Limpopo side the lead with a volley in the 11th minute.

In the 24th minute, the Urban Warriors almost equalised via Rodgers’ header, but TTM goalkeeper Tshepo Ramalele made the save.

Some sloppy defending by Ajax almost saw Modibedi Mokoena getting his name on the scoresheet, but the winger was denied by the upright in the 40th minute, leaving the game going into the break with TTM enjoying a slender 1-0 lead.

However, everything changed after halftime as Ajax upped the pressure.

Their search was over just three minutes after the interval when Siphesihle Mkhize netted.

It didn’t take long for the Cape side to get their second goal of the match as Rodger’s connected well with Cohen Stander’s cross, tapping into the back of the net three minutes later.

It didn’t end there as the lanky striker Rodgers (above) got his brace in the 53rd minute. to put Ajax 3-1 up.

Butsaka then went on to add to the Ajax tally in the 60th minute before Rodgers made it 5-1 from the penalty spot after a TTM defender handled inside the box.

Ajax now top the mini-log, level on six points with Leopards but with a better goal difference, while TTM remain pointless.