Cape Town – Ajax Cape Town’s winless run since their MTN8 final win was stretched to five matches after they lost 2-1 to Orlando Pirates in an action packed 90 minutes of Absa Premiership football at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
It was a night of goal chances and goalmouth action, which could have ended in a higher scoreline. But Pirates were deserved winners after a thrilling match.
After taking a few minutes to get going, Pirates began to dish up the kind of football they had displayed in their 3-1 weekend win Kaizer Chiefs; their play incisive and full of pace as the home defence struggled to contain Bucs’ quick combinations.
Both Thabo Rakhale and Menzi Masuku squandered good chances, before Kermit Erasmus put the visitors ahead on 16 minutes, heading home Ntshikelelo Nyauza’s cross after a slick passing movement had shredded open the Ajax defence.
It was Ajax’s first game since the tragic death of Cecil Lolo, and there was a touching moment on 21 minutes when the Urban Warriors faithful held up placards bearing the number ‘21’ – Lolo’s squad number – as they observed a minute’s applause.
Unfortunately for the home faithful, Pirates seem to have found a real cutting edge to their play of late, and they doubled their advantage on 22 minutes when Thandani Ntshumayelo’s killer ball put Lehlohonolo Majoro clean through on goal, and he went on to comfortably beat Ajax goalkeeper Jody February.
It was from a rare first-half attack that Roger De Sa’s side were to score, Toriq Losper bundling the ball over the goal line after some excellent work by Riyaad Norodien in the 26th minute.
In what was proving to be a thrilling and open game on a warm evening, Pirates seemingly created chances at will, while the Buccaneers goalkeeper, Felipe Ovono, also pulled off some top saves either side of halftime to deny Granwald Scott and Abbubaker Mobara.
As the match moved past the hour markit was the Urban Warriors looked the more dangerous side, creating good chances for the likes of striker Nathan Paulse and Mosa Lebusa.
The end to end action continued in relentless fashion for the 15 000-plus crowd, as Lopser curled a shot against the bar before Bantu Mzwakali had a free-kick turned away by Ovono as the home side failed to capitalise on their chances.
There were plenty of opportunities too for the visiting team to add to their tally, but Gift Motupa’s failure to take two storable chances didn’t influence the result. – ANA