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Cape Town - Jomo Cosmos showed guts and determination to earn a point as they drew 1-1 with Ajax Cape Town at a rainy Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
After a slow start to the game, Ajax looked to try and take control of the match around the 10 minute mark.
But having just started to do that, the hosts found themselves a goal down in the 14th minute as Siyabonga Nhlapo made the most of a hesitant defence to burst into the box before beating Sander Westerveld and seeing his shot going in off the post.
Despite enjoying the bulk of ball possession, the Urban Warriors struggled to create clear-cut chances against a determined Ezenkosi defence.
Chances were indeed few and far between, and luck also deserted the Cape side in the 35th minute when Terror Fanteni struck the base of the upright from 20-yards out.
After the restart the visiting side were happy to soak up the pressure before launching counter-attacks, and this nearly yielded a goal in the 50th minute, but Bamuza Sono got his shot all wrong as he tried in vain to curl the ball past Westerveld.
Ajax were back on level terms in the 56th minute when Cosmos failed to clear a free kick. The ball fell to Lebohang Manyama, whose shot hit the bar, but Terror Fanteni made no mistake from six yards out with the rebound.
The Urban Warriors continued to press and were very close to netting a second in the 71st minute when Manyama picked out Khama Billiat, but his volley was clawed away by a diving Avril Phali.
There were half chances for both sides in the final 15 minutes, but in the end a draw was just about a fair reflection of the game.
Ajax: (4-4-1-1): Westerveld; Lolo, Hlatshwayo, Jenniker, Wolff (Shabalala 74’); Manyama, Scott, Maluleka, Billiat; Shelembe (van Graan 62’); Fanteni
Cosmos (4-5-1): Phali; Hlalele, Berthe, Tshilo, Gaborone; Nonyane, Sono (Pila 70’), Tukane, Rusike (Meiring 70’), Nontshinga; Nhlapo (Loke 92’)
After a slow start to the game, Ajax looked to try and take control of the match around the 10 minute mark.
But having just started to do that, the hosts found themselves a goal down in the 14th minute as Siyabonga Nhlapo made the most of a hesitant defence to burst into the box before beating Sander Westerveld and seeing his shot going in off the post.
Despite enjoying the bulk of ball possession, the Urban Warriors struggled to create clear-cut chances against a determined Ezenkosi defence.
Chances were indeed few and far between, and luck also deserted the Cape side in the 35th minute when Terror Fanteni struck the base of the upright from 20-yards out.
After the restart the visiting side were happy to soak up the pressure before launching counter-attacks, and this nearly yielded a goal in the 50th minute, but Bamuza Sono got his shot all wrong as he tried in vain to curl the ball past Westerveld.
Ajax were back on level terms in the 56th minute when Cosmos failed to clear a free kick. The ball fell to Lebohang Manyama, whose shot hit the bar, but Terror Fanteni made no mistake from six yards out with the rebound.
The Urban Warriors continued to press and were very close to netting a second in the 71st minute when Manyama picked out Khama Billiat, but his volley was clawed away by a diving Avril Phali.
There were half chances for both sides in the final 15 minutes, but in the end a draw was just about a fair reflection of the game.
Ajax: (4-4-1-1): Westerveld; Lolo, Hlatshwayo, Jenniker, Wolff (Shabalala 74’); Manyama, Scott, Maluleka, Billiat; Shelembe (van Graan 62’); Fanteni
Cosmos (4-5-1): Phali; Hlalele, Berthe, Tshilo, Gaborone; Nonyane, Sono (Pila 70’), Tukane, Rusike (Meiring 70’), Nontshinga; Nhlapo (Loke 92’)
