Absa Premiership
Result: Ajax Cape Town 1-2 Orlando Pirates
Date: 13 September 2016
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Tendai Ndoro netted a brace for Orlando Pirates on Tuesday night as they beat Ajax Cape Town 2-1 in the Absa Premiership.
The hosts started the tie brightly and put the Buccaneers on the backfoot by camping in their third of the pitch, winning numerous set-pieces.
Ajax directed their attacks towards Nathan Paulse. The striker had a great chance in the 18th minute when he was teed up by Mosadi, but he shot over the bar, before forcing a save from Brighton Mhlongo with a headed attempt.
Despite struggling in the first half hour, it was Muhsin Ertugral's men who scored first when Mpho Makola played a one-two with Tendai Ndoro who shot into an empty net after the goalkeeper came off his line and missed the ball.
A minute later Ndoro had his second. Casual passing in the middle of the park from Ajax gave Oupa Manyisa the chance to take the ball away and send it through for Ndoro to finish into the bottom corner and double the lead.
Coach Roger de Sa's charges were back in the game when they pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute. A simple diagonal ball into the box was headed home by Paulse, who wasn't challenged in the air by Happy Jele.
Mark Mayambela made his Ajax debut when he came on for Mosadi in the 68th minute, and came close to scoring a few minutes later, directing his shot just wide.
Ajax piled on the pressure towards the latter end of the game but Pirates hung on desperately to see out the game and claim all three points on the road.
Here's how they lined up:
Ajax: 1. Petersen, 2. Mabaso, 3. Coetzee, 5. Lebusa, 6. Graham (Mokoena 80'), 10. Losper (Nxumalo 56'), 11. Mzwakali, 20. Isaacs, 23. Mosadi (Mayambela 67'), 27. Pietersen, 29. Paulse
Pirates: 16. Mhlongo,. Chabalala, 33. Gyimah (Sikhakhane 46') , 4. Jele, 8 Matlaba, 45. Mobara, 20. Manyisa, 12. Morrison (Qalinge 67'), 25. Rakhale (Phungwayo 83'), 5. Makola, 7. Ndoro.
