It wasn’t all three points that they were looking for, but Ajax Cape Town would’ve been satisfied to earn a 1-1 draw against bogey team Free State Stars in Bethlehem on Wednesday.
In what was new coach Stanley Menzo’s first match in charge of the Urban Warriors, the away point would’ve been welcomed at Ikamva following the departure of Roger de Sa last week, and the 2-0 defeat to SuperSport United last Saturday in Cape Town under the watch of assistant coach Mich D’Avray.
Ajax have never beaten Stars in 13 away matches, with 10 losses and three draws, and while that winless streak didn’t change on Wednesday, at least the visitors walked away with a point.
And Menzo has Bantu Mzwakali to thank for that as the speedy winger converted a free kick in the 23 rd minute to give Ajax the lead at Goble Park.
The Capetonians would’ve been hopeful of finally ending their win drought this season, having drawn two and lost five in the Premiership up to now, especially when they went into halftime with their lead intact.
But it took Ea Lla Koto just four minutes into the second half to grab the equaliser, with Goodman Dlamini beating Jody February in the Ajax goal to make it 1-1.
Ajax, though, will be glad that they held out to share the spoils in Menzo’s bow, and will hope to build on that in the two-week that they’ll enjoy as they aren’t part of the Telkom Knockout quarter-finals this weekend, which is followed by an international window of Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
Their next match is on November 19 against Maritzburg United at Cape Town Stadium.