Publications
Partners
It was the perfect start for the Urban Warriors as they took the lead in the first minute of the match. It was some sloppy defending by the home side that let Ajax in at the very first corner of the match.
A right sided corner was whipped in by George Maluleka which Mario Booysen met with a powerful header from only six yards out. There was nothing the keeper could do but watch the ball sail past him into the net, 1-0.
The Stars defence should really have picked Booysen up who was left unmarked and unchallenged inside the box when he headed his side in front. In fact, the Ea Lla Koto’s defence didn’t get any better as the half continued.
Instead, Ajax took firm control of the midfield battle and created chance after chance in front of goal. However, despite them dominating the possession stakes and creating scoring chances, their finishing was woeful.
Thembinkosi Fanteni, though, came closest to doubling his side’s lead in the 35th minute. After some brilliant individual work, Fanteni made his way into the box and let loose with a good shot from about 12-yards out, but his effort just skimmed the wrong side of the upright.
For Stars, they really struggled to get hold of the ball in the opening 45 minutes and welcomed the half time break with smiles.
That, however, was not the case in the second half as the Ea Lla Koto came out a renewed side and quickly found the equalising goal six minutes into the half.
A nice passing movement by the home side saw Noah Chivuta find some space inside the box and only 12-yards out from goal. The Stars player made no mistake with a clinical finish into the top right hand corner, 1-1.
Thereafter, Stars took firm control of the game and only had to wait another ten minutes before they actually took the lead. Chivuta grabbed his brace with a goal very similar to his first when he fired a powerful shot home from 12-yards out again, 2-1.
After going a goal up the home side seemed content to sit back in defence and defend their league. A risky move at the best of times, but a move that paid off for the Ea Lla Koto as they finished victorious on the day by two goals to one.
Free State Stars (0) 2 (Chivuta 51’ + 61’)
Ajax Cape Town (1)1 (Booysen 1’)
Teams
Stars: Mweene; Dikulu, Mbo, Matlaba, Taaibos, Masehe, Madimabe (Sekgobela 46’), Nyathi (Motaung 46’), Chivuta, Makola, Motha (Lebyane 79’)
Ajax: Vonk; LoloDaniels, Booysen, Evans, Mokeke (Billiat 66’), Maluleka (Lewis 81’), Scott, Fanteni, Serero, Manyama (Rusike 65’)
