Stellenbosch – Bidvest Wits and Ajax Cape Town settled for a 1-1 draw in their MTN8 first-leg semi-final match at the Coetzenburg Stadium in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The visitors began the match stronger, and it was a move against the run of play by Ajax which yielded the breakthrough early in the encounter with Toriq Losper providing the opener. But it was Wits who dominated much of the contest and were rewarded for their persistence with an equaliser with less than 15 minutes remaining through a Henrico Botes goal.
Ajax scored the opener in the 11th minute with their first real attack of the game. Prince Nxumalo provided the pass for Losper running into the box, and his first time shot found the corner of the net to grab a 1-0 lead for the hosts.
On the quarter hour mark, Wits began their search for an equaliser with a shot falling to Ben Motshwari but his attempt was deflected wide by an Ajax defender.
In the 28th minute, Onismor Bhasera for Wits produced a rasping shot from range but the ball was narrowly off target.
Another chance came the way of Wits in the 36th minute after a mistake from Ajax keeper Anssi Jaakkola allowed Thulani Ngcepe a shot from an unmarked position from close range, but his attempt was deposited into the crowd.
It took an age to get a shot on target in the second period but it finally materialised after the 70 minute mark. Riyaad Norodien for Ajax found himself with the ball in space in the box, and his well-struck shot had the post come to the rescue to keep the home side ahead.
Botes levelled the scores in the 76th minute. The 35-year-old goal-poacher lived up to his reputation as he was first to follow-up on a saved-shot and nudged the ball home to make it 1-1.
– ANA