Ajax thrash Golden Arrows

Khama Billiat of Ajax Cape Town celebrates his goal with Matthew Booth.

Khama Billiat of Ajax Cape Town celebrates his goal with Matthew Booth.

Published May 12, 2012

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Ajax Cape Town enhanced their chances of a top eight finish in the Premier Soccer League with a 4-1 win over Golden Arrows at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The home side were off to the perfect start as they scored as early as the seventh minute.

The goal came from Khama Billiat, whose shot slipped through the hands of Arrows keeper Nkosingphile Gumede, following a good through ball from George Maluleka.

Just four minutes later and an even worse mistake from Gumede saw Lebo Manyama scoring with what had appeared to be a harmless cross into the box, the keeper somehow managing to allow the tame delivery to slip through his hands.

This spelt the end of Gumede's afternoon, the young keeper being replaced by substitute Stephan Loboue.

But Loboue too was soon picking the ball out the back of the net, following Mathew Booth's clinical 25th minute header; the defender netting with his fifth goal of the season after being given free rein in the box at Maluleka's free kick.

Arrows however managed to give themselves a glimmer of hope just before the break when Siyabonga Nkosi showed his class and skill to jink through the Ajax defence before slotting the ball past Sander Westerveld and into the far corner of the net.

The second half saw Arrows with the first chance, but Tamsanqa Gabuza wasted his chance with a weak shot-cum-cross.

At the other of the field Ajax were close to adding a fourth goal when Maluleka hit the crossbar with a free kick after 55 minutes.

Ten minutes later and Nkosi did likewise for Arrows, the former Bafana Bafana attacker skimming the bar from 20-yards out.

In the 75th minute the Cape side were again on the attack and only a good save from Loboue denied Lebo Manyama from scoring with a well-struck shot.

Billiat should then certainly have extended the Urban Warriors' lead with 10 minutes to go, but the Zimbabwean was unable to hit the target with only the Arrows keeper to beat.

Closing action saw both teams exerting pressure, action switching from end to end before Ajax finally put the game to bed with a well-executed Maluleka strike from 18-yards out, following some great work down the flank from Billiat. – Sapa

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