Mamelodi Sundowns scored two goals in two minutes to come from behind and secure a 2-1 victory against Ajax Cape Town on Tuesday night at the Cape Town Stadium, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
The visitors got off to a brighter start of the two teams and dominated the opening exchanges with Hlompho Kekana and Oupa Manyisa pulling strings in the midfield.
Ajax came close to taking the lead with the first real chance of the game when Fagrie Lakay got the better of his marker, but goalkeeper Denis Onyango proved equal to the task as he kept out the effort.
Sundowns continued their dominance, while Ajax seemed content with defending deep in their half and playing on the counter attack, with Lakay causing all sorts of problems as lone-man in attack.
The home side took the lead in the 27th minute when a quickly taken freekick by Tashreeq Morris found Lakay who did well to fend off Thapelo Morena before calmly slotting home.
Pitso Mosimane’s side immediately upped their tempo and came agonisingly close to levelling matters, but Motjeka Madisha’s header narrowly went wide from Kekana’s ball into the area.
Pietersen pulled over two world class saves in quick succession to keep out efforts from Oupa Manyisa and Percy Tau respectively.
Sundowns’ continuous attacking efforts were rewarded when they were awarded a penalty in the 37th minute after Isaac Nhlapo was judged to have handled the ball in the area. Defender Ricardo Nascimento made no mistake from the resultant spotkick to level matters.
Two minutes later, Cape Town Stadium was silenced when Tau’s expert ball into the area was finished off by the deftest of touches by Sibusiso Vilakazi.
Sundowns went into the half-time break with their 2-1 lead. Gerald Takwara came on for his debut in place of Roderick Kabwe as Ajax went in search of the equaliser.
Ajax came out of the starting blocks determined to grab the equaliser and should have done so two minutes after the restart when Onyango failed to hold onto a long ball into the area, which saw the ball fall at the feet of Lakay; however, the goalscorer blasted his effort over the target.
Tau came close to finishing off the game in the 55th minute when he got the better of Mario Booysen before placing his chip over the crossbar.
Ajax were awarded a rare chance after a defensive slip up by Sundowns and saw Lakay go through on goal, but the youngster opted to pass when a shot seemed like a better choice.
Sundowns continued to knock on the door in search of the third goal, while the home side opted for their second change as Masilake Phohlongo replaced Taariq Losper in the 60th minute.
Phohlongo almost immediately made his presence felt and had a shot at goal in the 68th minute, but his effort proved tame. Muhisn Ertugral opted for his final roll of the dice as debutant Muzi Thabotha came on for Lakay.
Keletso Makgalwa, too, made his debut as he entered the fray late on for goalscorer Vilakazi. Content with their one-goal lead, Mosimane shut up shop and brought on Siyanda Zwane for Morena as Sundowns thwarted off any attacking attempts by Ajax in the remaining minutes to run out 1-0 victors.
Ajax XI: 1.Petersen, 25. Kammies, 13. Nhlapo, 30. Booysen, 5. Lebusa, 29. Malepe, 16. Kabwe, 10. Losper, 11. Morris, 42. Julies, 41. Lakay.
Sundowns XI: 14. Onyango, 4. Langerman, 32. Madisha, 16. Nascimento, 27. Morena, 7. Manyisa, 8. Kekana, 13. Mabunda, 11. Vilakazi, 18. Zwane, 22. Tau.
Photo: Chris Ricco/Backpagepix
