Ajax Cape Town defeated Bloemfontein Celtic 2-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.

The visitors looked the more likely team to score in the opening minutes, but it was Ajax who opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a superb through ball by Bantu Mzwakali released Neo Makua, who in turn fed Prince Nxumalo to duly slot home.

The goal prompted Celtic into attacking mode, and despite carving out the Ajax defence, goalkeeper Brandon Petersen proved in fine form to ensure that his side kept their lead.

Nxumalo helped Ajax double their advantage in the 19th minute when he evaded the attention of a few players before unselfishly teeing up Mzwakali to make it 2-0.

Celtic were presented with a number of opportunities to reduce the deficit, but a mixture of wasteful finishing and great goalkeeping ensured that the scores remained the same into half-time.

Phunya Sele Sele dominated both possession stakes and chances created for large parts of the second-half, but somehow failed to muster a way past a resilient Ajax defence.

Dlamini should have pulled one back for Celtic in the 67th minute, but the forward skewed his effort from within the area, with the goal begging at his mercy.

Content with their two-goal lead, the Urban Warriors shut up shop and got numbers behind the ball in a bid to thwart any Celtic attacks. The Mother City outfit ran out 2-0 victors to strengthen their grip on a top-eight finish in the Absa Premiership.

Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/Backpagepix