Ajax return to winning ways
Ajax return to winning ways
Posted: Oct 28 2009
Ajax Cape Town put their MTN8 Cup Final loss behind them with a 2-0 Absa Premiership win over Moroka Swallows at the Newlands Stadium on Wednesday night.
Goals for the home side came via a penalty by Dipsy Selolwane and a late own goal from Gordon Gilbert.
The first half was an uninspiring affair which saw the Birds happy to sit back and allow Ajax to attack.
However Swallows' defence did not have too much to worry about as the home team looked out of sorts in attack, failing to find rhythm and fluency and too often sending final balls into the box well wide.
The only occasions Swallows keeper Greg Etafia was really tested was when Sameegh Doutie put in a couple of good crosses from the right and Franklyn Cale whipped several free-kicks.
One such delivery in the 33rd minute came close, as Cale’s telling ball into the box came within a whisker of finding Deniss Ivanovs and Sifiso Vilakazi, both of whom were ready to pounce from close range.
Two minutes before the break Nhlanhla Shabalala was unlucky when his powerful volley from 25-yards struck a defender.
Swallows looked marginally more threatening up front in the early stages of the second half, although Ajax keeper Hans Vonk was not unduly troubled.
But it was at the other end of the field that the first goal arrived. Dispy Selowane slotted home a 59th minute penalty after Lance Davids’ superb through-ball had resulted in Ramahlwe Mphahlele bringing down Doutie.
The goal had the effect of spurring Ajax into action and subsequent chances were soon created, however, Selowane headed over the bar and Diyo Sibisi’s hesitation in front of goal twice saw opportunities being wasted, while Cale crashed a free-kick inches wide in the final minute of the game.
However, there was still time for Ajax to net their second goal when Swallows defender Gordon Gilbert slid Cale’s dangerous cross into his own net.
59
86
Comment on this article:
TERMS OF USE: The comments posted below do not reflect the views of KickOff.com. Users are reminded that no misuse of this comment facility will be tolerated. Any abusive, racist or inflammatory comments will be deleted and the user banned. Please report abusive posts to editor@kickoff.com