A second half goal from substitute Tasriq Morris rescued a point for Ajax Cape Town as they came from a goal behind to play to a 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match against Free State Stars at Goble Park on Saturday.
The point sees Ajax up to eighth place on the league table while Free State sit second from bottom.
Ajax started the better of the two teams and created a couple of decent scoring chances early on.
Carl Lark had the Urban Warriors first attempt on goal in the fourth minute when he met a Keegan Dolly corner-kick, but he headed inches over the target.
In the sixth minute a piece of individual skill from Abbubaker Mobara saw the Ajax man on a mesmerising run that beat two defenders before his shot from 16-yards out was magnificently saved by the goalkeeper.
At the other end of the park, Ajax’s goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola was in fine form and made a number of good stops.
First, Jaakkola produced a good save to thwart Adam Abdul-Basit from 16-yards out. Then, seven minutes later Jaakkola was at his best to deny Adam Abdul-Basit from an acute angle on the left.
The next effort on goal only came on the half hour mark as Richard Henyekane fired a 25-yard free-kick just wide of the left-hand post.
Ajax’s defence went to sleep in the final minute of the half when a mistake from Nazeer Allie allowed Henyekane through on goal and he made no mistake with a clinical finish from 14-yards out, 1-0.
The second half saw Ajax with more of the ball possession and they finally made their pressure tell when second half substitute Tasriq Morris headed them level in the 62nd minute.
It was a fantastic 18-yard header from the striker who met a deep left-wing cross from Aiden Jenniker, 1-0.
Only the brilliance of the Ajax goalkeeper saw Ajax salvage a point when Danny Venter broke through on goal in the 81st minute, but he was thwarted by Jaakkola in a one-on-one situation.
Free State Stars (1) 1 (Henyekane 44’)
Ajax Cape Town (0) 0 (Morris 62’)
Teams
Free State: Motsoeneng, Basie, Our-Akoriko, Adam, Tlhone, Cardoso, Masehe, Yende, Henyekane, Mashego (Venter 68’), Thebakang (King 60’)
Ajax: Jaakkola, Lolo, Hlatshwayo, Allie, Jenniker, Sangweni, Mzwakali (Van de Laak 65’), Ernesto, Mobara (Alexander 91’), Dolly, Lark (Morris 57’) – Backpage Media