ABSA Premiership
Result: Ajax Cape Town 2-1 Bloemfontein Celtic
Date: 18 December
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Ajax Cape Town came from behind to beat Bloemfontein Celtic 2-1 in an ABSA Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
Ajax's goals came from substitute Nathan Paulse, and an 89th minute cracker from Aidan Jenniker, after Vuyani Ntanga had given Celtic the lead just after the hour mark.
Ajax's first chance of the game came in the opening minute, but Eleazar Rodgers' header from a Cole Alexander cross was off target.
In the seventh minute Celtic thought they had a penalty when Gabadinho Mhango was knocked over by Abbubaker Mobara, but the referee waved play on.
Seconds later Vuyani Ntanga tried an effort for Celtic from outside the box, but Anssi Jaakkola was well positioned and saved.
In the 11th minute Mobara ran into the box onto a Rodgers through ball and rounded Celtic keeper Patrick Tingyemb, but his first touch was too strong and as he stopped the ball from crossing the deadball line, Clayton Daniels was able to get back and clear.
A minute later Keagan Dolly tried from a set piece, but his shot went high and wide.
In the 20th minute Lerato Lamola tried an overhead kick inside the box, but his shot was skied over.
Two minutes later Ntanga tried another long range effort, but it flew over Jaakkola's goal.
Dolly tried from just outside the area in the 28th minute, but his shot went wide to the right.
In the 41st minute Lyle Lakay tried an effort from outside the box, but Jaakkola wasn't tested as the shot flew over, and at half-time it remained goalless.
Three minutes into the second half Rodgers had a chance, but the lanky striker's effort went wide to the right.
Celtic had another penalty call in the 56th minute when Lamola believed he'd been brought down by Jaakkola, but the referee didn't agree.
In the 60th minute Mhango unleashed a great shot from outside the area, but Jaakkola made a great one-handed diving save to tip the ball over.
Two minutes later Daniels sent in a great long ball for Ntanga to run on to, and he made a diving header to beat Jaakkola and put Celtic 1-0 up.
Two Ajax substitutes almost combined to equalise for Ajax in the 66th minute, but Nathan Paulse's effort from a Stelio Ernesto cross was wide to the right.
Paulse did equalise though in the 69th minute, running onto a good through ball from Dolly, and tucking it away in the bottom right corner past a diving Tingyemb to make it 1-1.
Two minutes later Mhango had a chance for Celtic from inside the area, but his shot went high and wide.
Ntanga forced another top save from Jaakkola in the 78th minute, as he shot from outside the area, and the big Finnish keeper was able to just tip the goal-bound ball onto the crossbar and over.
In the 84th minute Lebogang Manyama tried from outside the box, but his shot took a deflection and went out for a corner.
Lakay had a chance from outside the box in the 87th minute, but his shot went just wide to the left.
In the 89th minute Aidan Jenniker beat one man as he cut in from the left and hit a great shot from outside the area into the top right corner to make it 2-1 to Ajax.
In the 94th minute Manyama shot from outside the area, but Tingyemb made an easy save, and a minute later Tingyemb saved at Manyama's feet as the Ajax man ran into the box.
This is how they started:
Ajax Cape Town: Anssi Jaakkola, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Dominic Isaacs, Ritus Krjauklis, Aidan Jenniker, Cole Alexander, Abbubaker Mobara, Lebogang Manyama, Keagan Dolly, Toriq Losper, Eleazar Rodgers
Bloemfontein Celtic: Patrick Tingyemb, Tsietsi Mahoa, Thabo Nthethe, Clayton Daniels, Wandisile Letlabika, Keagan Buchanan, Lerato Lamola, Lyle Lakay, Vuyani Ntanga, Musa Nyatama, Gabadinho Mhango
