City rule Cape Town!

Bhongolethu Jayiya (left) leads the Cape Town City celebrations after scoring the only goal of the derby against Ajax Cape Town on Friday night. Photo: Chris Ricco, BackpagePix

Bhongolethu Jayiya (left) leads the Cape Town City celebrations after scoring the only goal of the derby against Ajax Cape Town on Friday night. Photo: Chris Ricco, BackpagePix

Published Sep 23, 2016

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The Mother City derby regained its lustre and thrust itself back into the PSL spotlight when Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town produced an entertaining, thrill-a-minute encounter at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.

City emerged as 1-0 winners, but it was a match in which both teams gave their all – and, in the end, it was a great advertisement for football in the PSL, but, more importantly, a noisy reminder of the potential of Cape football.

Sometimes football games are hyped and, on match day, it delivers just a whimper. Not this derby, though, the first-ever fixture between newly-established City and neighbours Ajax… It was an open, attractive game, there were scoring chances galore at both ends, and the 10 000-strong crowd in attendance certainly got their money’s worth.

On the balance of play, City were the better team as they unsettled Ajax with their sweeping attacking moves. For City, it was particularly the pace on the flanks that was a big strength, with Bhongolethu Jayiya and Aubrey Ngoma causing all sorts of problems for the Ajax defence.

Ngoma was also desperately unlucky not to score when his effort in the 62nd minute hit the upright.

With all the anticipation and promotion, it was expected that the players would be up for it right from the opening whistle.

As such, the derby erupted into a lively opening five minutes, with City’s Lebogang Manyama in the thick of things. On two occasions, the City captain engineered himself into space with intelligent forward runs, but the final pass wasn’t forthcoming.

Gradually, though, after that initial onslaught from their neighbours, Ajax got back into it. The in-form Bantu Mzwakali was the man making things happen for Ajax, but he, too, was unable to be more clinical and decisive in front of goal.

The best early chance, though, fell to Ajax’s Toriq Losper, who was clean through on goal but lacked the confidence to take the responsibility as he cut the ball back instead, and the chance went begging.

With play swinging from end to end, it was City who took the lead in 21st minute when Thato Mokeke’s cross found Jayiya lurking in the box, and the City winger made no mistake to score what would eventually be the winning goal.

Much of the discussion in the build-up to the game was about the influence of veteran Ajax striker Nathan Paulse. But crucially City also had a robust, powerful striker of their own to unleash on Ajax in Judas Moseamedi.

The bustling, hard-running attacker with the booming shot troubled the Ajax defence. He’s a difficult customer to police – and at the age of 22, he’s a player to monitor. He looks a real promising footballer and certainly doesn’t lack for confidence...

City should have increased their advantage a minute before half-time when Aubrey Ngoma’s pace ripped the Ajax defence to shreds, but Ajax goalkeeper Brandon Petersen produced a great save to deny the winger.

In keeping with the nature of the frenetic action, moments later Ajax had a chance at the other end, but Paulse made a complete hash of it from inside the five-yard area.

Chances continued to arrive and both defences had to be at their best – Moseamedi was thwarted by a fantastic block by Rivaldo Coetzee, while Mzwakali was denied by a brilliant interception from Tshepo Gumede.

Ajax threw men forward in the final 10 minutes in search of an equaliser, but Paulse headed wide, and substitute Eric Chipeta missed a rather easy chance from right in front of goal. But despite the late charge from Ajax, City hung on for the victory.

So, after a great game, a fantastic occasion, the challenge is now with the Mother City’s football followers.

Ajax coach Roger de Sa spoke about it being important how supporters would respond after the derby, whether they would continue to come out to watch the Cape clubs. City and Ajax delivered a rousing derby – what now, Cape Town?

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@Reinerss11

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