CAPE TOWN – There is no respite for Ajax Cape Town and their woes in 2017. The Urban Warriors have not won a game this year, and it proved no different on Friday night when they were held to a 2-2 draw by a plucky Free State Stars at the Athlone Stadium.
To be fair, the Cape side was undone by a bizarre refereeing decision that resulted in Grant Margeman being sent off in the 70th minute.
After that, Stars gained the ascendancy and could easily have burgled all three points. Fortunately, Stanley Menzo’s team were able to cling on for the point.
Initially, though, inspired by another mature performance from 18-year-old Margeman, Ajax had taken a 2-1 lead at halftime.
It has been a real torrid time for Ajax this year, culminating in last week’s embarrassing Nedbank Cup defeat to Second Division side Kwadukuza United.
In the build-up to Friday night’s PSL game, Ajax coach Menzo had spoken about his delight at having SA Under-20 star Margeman back from international duty.
The teenager from Bonteheuwel had played an influential part in the SA U20s qualifying for the junior World Cup in South Korea later this year.
And, as Menzo suggested, it was Margeman’s midfield energy and creativity that was at the heart of the Cape side’s performance on Friday.
Not far behind the youngster, though, with regard to impact on the game, was seasoned campaigner Mark Mayambela. The tricky 29-year-old bamboozled the Stars defence with his dribbling skills, which worked well in tandem with the superb vision and smooth passing of Margeman.
But the opening period proved again that Ajax are simply their own worst enemy. The Capetonians dominated the possession and territory and yet, after 18 minutes, they found themselves 1-0 down through another silly error and a lapse in concentration.
With Ajax on top and cruising, and it seemingly being just a matter of time before their dominance produced a goal, they instead allowed the opposition to nip in and score against the run of play.
Goalkeeper Jody February was the chief culprit when, in trying to play out from the back, delivered a poor pass, and Stars pounced on the mistake for Ghanaian striker Mohammed Anas to give the Free Staters an unlikely 1-0 lead.
Despite the setback, Ajax continued to dominate proceedings and, by the 32nd minute, they finally made their superiority count when Mayambela netted.
Again, it was the goalkeeper that was found wanting. Mayambela’s innocuous shot from range looked rather hopeful, but Stars keeper Thela Ngobeni made a hash of his attempt to save, and the ball managed to squeeze its way into the net.
Teenager Grant Margeman was one of the stand-outs for Ajax Cape Town. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky, BackpagePix
Margeman, though, continued to make his presence felt and it was his headed flick-on, moments before halftime, that put Rodrick Kabwe in the clear, and the Zambian made no mistake to net his first goal for the Cape side.
Teenager Margeman, after his SA U20 endeavours in Zambia over the last three weeks, understandably succumbed to cramp and fatigue, and was about to replaced. By then, it was job done for Margeman – and a good job indeed.
There was, however, controversy to follow. Margeman was adjudged by the referee to have walked off the field too slowly, and was handed a second yellow card (with the card belatedly shown when the player was already off the field), which meant Ajax had to tackle the remaining 20 minutes with 10 men.
Up to that stage, Ajax certainly never had things their own way as the Free Staters had come out with more purpose and resolve in the second half.
And, with the Capetonians a man down, Stars took full advantage, with Anas getting his second goal on the night to level at 2-2.
The Free State side finished the stronger, but Ajax managed to hang on for the point.