Chiefs Humbled In Cape Town

14 September 2011

ABSA Premiership

Date: 14 September 2011

Result: Ajax Cape Town 2-1 Kaizer Chiefs

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Referee: Harry Lekitlane

Ajax Cape Town profited from a controversial penalty decision and a piece of good fortune to edge Kaizer Chiefs 2-1 at the Cape Town Stadium this evening.

There was an early test for Ajax gloveman Sean Roberts as a Reneilwe Letsholonyane free-kick whistled over the crossbar. The Bafana midfielder was making his presence felt, putting his tremendous workrate on show from the first whistle.

Ajax have won just two encounters in 13 against Chiefs and they came under pressure conceding three quick corners within the first ten minutes. Amakhosi were looking sharp and Roberts was soon called upon to deny Bernard Parker his first goal of the season. The lanky keeper had a touch of luck go his way as he palmed a powerful shot onto the upright and behind for the corner.

The home side were finding the going tough in the middle of the park against three Amakhosi holding midfielders and had to rely on Khama Billiat's pace on the break. The slippery Zimbabwean had the beating of Chiefs skipper Jimmy Tau on a couple of occasions during the half.     

Unsurprisingly, Billiat was involved as Ajax got the opener against the run of the play in the 19th minute. The playmaker played Terror Fanteni through into the Chiefs area where the big striker looked to have been hauled to the ground by Itumeleng Khune. Replays were not conclusive. The former Maccabi Haifa man made no mistake with the penalty to add to the Bafana number one's recent woes.   

Chiefs continued where they left off and Jimmy Jambo showed he had potential going forward, delivering a perfect cross for Parker, whose header went just wide of Roberts' goal on the half hour. The Naturena outfit were lacking patience in their approach and a number of yellow-and-black passes went astray.

Ajax stand-in captain Nazeer Allie got in a vital touch to steer the ball into touch ahead of a cluster of marauding Chiefs attackers after sterling work from Sthembiso Ngcobo on the right flank in the 34th minute. Tomas Sweswe came close to his first goal in professional football with a fabulous but wide strike from a short corner two minutes later with Thato Mokeke fluffing a routine clearance.

There was a good passage of play from the home side as they finished the half on a strong note. Both Lebogang Monyama and Billiat found Dominic Isaacs wanting for pace as they probed for that second goal.  

Chiefs took just three minutes of the second period to get back on level terms through the excellent Letsholonyane. The dreadlocked powerhouse finished a complex passing move off with a stunning right-footed strike into the bottom corner of the net. Jambo stung Roberts' gloves soon after with a vicious drive as Chiefs looked to press their advantage.  

The hosts did not allow themselves to be stunned into going behind and a deft sliding tackle from Isaacs is all that keeps Billiat from getting on the scoresheet. Fanteni used his pace to find space on the right side of the area and was on target from a tight angle but Khune got behind it in time.

Soon after Tinashe Nengomashe was cautioned for pushing in the 73rd minute and suspended for the weekend's Soweto Derby, Lebogang Manyama took full advantage of a fortunate bounce to slot past Khune and put Ajax back in the lead to set the vuvuzelas off at a packed Cape Town Stadium.

The Urban Warriors withstood a furious Chiefs onslaught in the closing stages to revive their ailing campaign with a much-needed three points.

Ajax Cape Town: Roberts, Vilakazi, Hlatshwayo, Mokeke, Shabalala, Jenniker, Allie, Manyama, Maluleka (Lolo 64'), Fanteni (Correia 72'), Billiat

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Isaacs, Sweswe, Baloyi (Dladla 84'), Jambo, Nengomashe, Letsholonyane (Masango 84'), Tshabalala, Ngcobo (Majoro 68'), Parker

Goals: Terror Fanteni 19' pen, Lebogang Manyama 78' (Ajax), Reneilwe Letsholonyane 48' (Chiefs)