CAPE TOWN – If Ajax Cape Town continue to produce this level of football, then the spectre of relegation will soon be a thing of the past. The Cape side defeated SuperSport United 2-0 at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night to ease their way out of the bottom two positions on the league standings.
But it wasn’t just the result, it was the manner in which Ajax went about their business: they were speedy and exciting in attack, calm and composed in midfield, and solid and structured at the back.
The win lifted Ajax to third-from-bottom on the PSL log, with 24 points, and with more of the same, they could most certainly aim for a much higher finish with seven games remaining.
It was the return to the starting team of the energetic Yannick Zakri that proved to be the catalyst for Ajax’s greater impetus in attack. The Ivory Coast forward, together with the pace of 20-year-old Fagrie Lakay, caused havoc in the SuperSport defence.
The Cape side played with superb commitment and made it evident that they were desperate for the points. They should, in fact, have been ahead in the opening five minutes when they created two good chances, but Zakri’s close-in effort was smothered by SuperSport goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and, moments later, when Toriq Losper drifted a cross into the area, the keeper had to make another save to stop a deflected header from his own defender, Clayton Daniels.
Further opportunities accrued for Ajax, with Losper hitting the upright, defender Morgan Gould making a timely interception to deny Lakay, and Zakri flicking a header wide after a fine cross from captain Mosa Lebusa.
SuperSport had a few good moments – Gould powered a header wide, Aubrey Modiba should really have scored in the first half, but was let down by a shoddy first touch, and Grant Kekana was foiled by a superb tackle from Lebusa.
For Ajax, though, to make the effort and industry of the team worthwhile, they needed a goal. And they got it five minutes into the second half when Losper created the opening for Lakay, and the youngster thundered in a shot from the edge of the penalty area.
A minute later, Ajax should have increased their advantage when Lakay’s pace left Daniels gasping for air, but Losper was unable to finish off the cut back.
But the Urban Warriors got the second goal they wanted when Williams spilled Rodrick Kabwe’s cross, and Mario Booysen reacted quickest for a simple tap-in.
FT: 🔴 @ajaxcapetown2-0 @SuperSportFC🔵
BACK ON TRACK • #WeAreAjaxCT pic.twitter.com/gH3WOAxIjD
— Ajax Cape Town (@ajaxcapetown) February 28, 2018
The Cape side could have got a third when substitute Tendai Ndoro was clean through on goal, but Williams pulled off a wonderful save to deny the Zimbabwean.