Ajax Cape Town defeated Chippa United 1-0, courtesy of Thabo Mosadi’s lone strike in their Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday afternoon at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
Stanley Menzo made one change to his side that defeated Platinum Stars 2-0, with Yagan Sasman replacing the suspended Musa Lebusa.
Thamsanqa Sangweni, who received a red card in the 2-1 loss to Orlando Pirates, was replaced by Mbulelo Wambi for the Chilli Boys.
The home side got off to the brighter start of the two teams and dictated play with Sekome proving lively in the opening exchanges, getting the better of young Sasman on a few occasions.
Daniel Akpeyi pulled off a fine save from Prince Nxumalo’s long-range effort in the eighth minute. Lerato Manzini should have opened the scoring for the home side in the 16th minute, but somehow skewed his effort wide of the target – with the goal at his mercy.
Mosadi proved to be a thorn in the side of the home side with his surging runs down the right wing and the winger came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 30th minute, but the onrushing Akpeyi was well-positioned to stop him in his tracks.
Both sides proved wasteful with their attempts in the remaining minutes of the first-half in what proved to be an entertaining first 45 minutes.
The visitors emerged with more of an attacking intent and almost took the lead when a mix-up in the Chippa defence gave them a great opportunity, but Kristopher Bergman did well to clear the ball off the line.
Manzini wasted a glorious opportunity to open the scoring four minutes later when he was put through on goal, but the forward’s effort was denied by Brandon Petersen.
Mosadi opened the scoring for Ajax in the 79th minute when he profited from a mistake made by the Chippa defence to give his side a 1-0 lead.
Content with their one-goal lead, the Mother City based-outfit shut up shop and thwarted all Chippa attacks in the remaining minutes of the clash to run out 1-0 victors, and move into the top half of the table.
Photo: Deryck Foster/BackpagePix