Downs still winless after Ajax defeat

Cape Town - 140813 - Keagan Dolly of Ajax Cape Town during the PSL soccer match between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town - Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Cape Town - 140813 - Keagan Dolly of Ajax Cape Town during the PSL soccer match between Ajax Cape Town and Mamelodi Sundowns at Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town - Photo: Matthew Jordaan

Published Aug 14, 2014

Share

Cape Town – Ajax Cape Town earned their first league win of the season with a 1-0 victory over Mamelodi Sundowns at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

The result leaves Pitso Mosimane's Premiership champions win-less after their first two league games, following the Tshwane side's draw with Maritzburg United 1-1 in their previous match.

The first half was an uninspired affair, with Sundowns' strategy of by-passing the wet Cape Town turf by hitting long balls into the Ajax box failing to pay off.

To their credit, both sides showed good attacking intent, but neither outfit was able to carve out opportunities where it mattered most - in their opponents' box.

The home side were able to pass the ball around well at times, but apart from a Keagan Dolly shot which sailed harmlessly wide after three minutes, and a couple of low crosses which failed to find a teammate, the Urban Warriors failed to give Downs keeper Wayne Sandilands much to worry about.

The second half started with more promise. Five minutes into the second stanza the complexion of the game was changed when Ajax's young skipper, Travis Graham, took matters into his own hands as he fired in an unstoppable low drive from 35-yards past Sandilands to give Ajax a 1-0 lead.

The setback spurred the Tshwane side into action, but they were unable to make chances count as Mame Niang went wide with a header.

With Sundowns pushing for an equalising goal, they were always going to be vulnerable on the counter-attack. It was from a set piece with 15 minutes to go, however, that Roger De Sa's side nearly doubled their lead after Nathan Paulse's header flew a foot over the bar.

Themba Zwane should have earned the Brazilians a late point, but he smashed a half volley over the bar from only 14-yards out in added time. – Sapa

Related Topics: