PSL
Ajax CT clinch late victory
2012-12-08 09:17
Toriq Losper (Gallo Images)
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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town left it late in taking all three points from a 1-0 win over Maritzburg United in their Absa Premiership game at the Athlone Stadium on a windy Friday night.
There was an early chance for the Team of Choice when a Mathew Booth error saw Ryan de Jongh running in on goal, but Ajax keeper Sean Roberts reacted, moving quickly off the line.
Ajax had chances as Bradley Grobler fired a wayward shot, while Khama Billiat was somewhat closer with his speculative volley from 30 yards.
The home team tried to seize the advantage as the first stanza reached the half-way stage, but for all their pushing and probing, they created little in the way of threats to the Maritzburg goal.
There was a moment of controversy on the half-hour mark when Maritzburg United assistant coach Ronnie Kanalelo was sent off for a comment he made.
Ajax had a decent chance minutes before the break when Toriq Losper put Lebo Manyama in on goal, but Shu-aib Walters did well to close down the angle.
The second half remained tight, with neither side able to find the breakthrough in and around the opposition goal.
Maritzburg made a few efforts on goal shortly after the restart but Thabang Matuka and then Mthokizisi Yende lacked any sting in their shots from outside the box.
Ajax's injury concerns were compounded after 65 minutes when Booth was forced off the park by injury, with Taariq Fielies replacing him.
With five minutes to go Wanderson took the ball into the box where a half challenge saw the ball falling to Toriq Losper, who fired the ball across Walters into the net.
The visitors nearly equalised when Delron Buckley went close with an angled shot.