Ajax Cape Town poured everything into the attack in the second half, but Orlando Pirates held on for a 2-1 Premiership win at Cape Town Stadium on Tuesday night.
A Tendai Ndoro brace within two minutes late in the first half was enough to maintain the Buccaneers’ unbeaten start to the league as they remained in top spot on the log with six points from two matches.
In front of over 16 000 boisterous spectators at the 2010 Fifa World Cup venue, it was Pirates’ Zimbabwean sharp-shooter Ndoro who broke the deadlock after an entertaining opening half-an-hour where both teams had opportunities to score, with Ajax’s Roscoe Pietersen having his effort cleared off the line in the 21st minute.
Ndoro found Bafana Bafana midfielder Mpho Makola on the edge of the Ajax penalty area and played the perfect one-two combination, with goalkeeper Brandon Petersen missing the ball to allow the striker to open the scoring in the 36th minute.
Just a minute later, the 31-year-old Ndoro capitalised on a timely interception from midfield general Oupa Manyisa, who dispossessed Ajax captain Travis Graham in the centre circle and provided a through-ball for Ndoro, who evaded a sliding tackle from Roscoe Pietersen outside the box and easily beat the goalkeeper Brandon Petersen.
The Urban Warriors pushed forward in the second half and were rewarded for their persistence in the 53rd minute when veteran striker Nathan Paulse latched on a superb Erwin Isaacs cross from the left to head the ball past Brighton Mhlongo in the Pirates’ goal.
Pirates then went into their shell to defend their one-goal advantage, and it was Ajax who poured forward in search of the equaliser. But goalkeeper Mhlongo made several outstanding saves, including a double stop in stoppage time to keep the Cape Town team at bay.
Despite a number of chances for Roger de Sa’s men, they couldn’t get a share of the spoils as Pirates coach Muhsin Ertgural got one over his former team, with Ndoro taking his goal tally to five in two matches.
In other Premiership results on the night, Highlands Park beat Baroka FC 2-1, while Polokwane City drew 0-0 at home against Wits.
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