PSL
Khenyeza hat-trick boosts Ajax
2009-02-25 22:42
Cape Town - Two goals in each half, before the visiting side scored a late consolation goal, provided a comprehensive win for Ajax Cape Town against Bay United at Athlone Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Ajax were totally dominant in the first half and could well have had four goals had they been more clinical.
Having struggled to score goals at late, Ajax’s nerves were settled early on when they took a 12th-minute lead through Sameehg Doutie, who rose high in the box to head home Franklin Cale’s cross.
Bay United hardly had a sniff at goal and Ajax kept coming at them as they searched for more goals – in the 34th minute they were successful when Cale cut inside and unselfishly laid the ball off to Mabhuti Khenyeza, who slotted past Arthur Bartman.
The Urban Warriors finished the half strongly and should have scored in the 43rd minute when Nazier Allie capitalised on a mistake and went clean through on goal, but he was unable to beat Bartman.
Just before the break Ajax missed another chance when Brett Evans failed to make contact with the ball after a good combination with Khenyeza.
Khenyeza effectively sealed the game 18 minutes after the restart when he headed Cale’s cross into the back of the net.
To their credit, Bay tried to fight back and in the 66th minute Gareth Ncaca conjured up a great free-kick, only to see Andre Petim making a fantastic save.
Fifteen minutes from time Khenyeza completed his hat-trick when he took advantage of some slack defending to score from inside the box.
Umlilo were finally able to salvage some pride when they scored in the dying minutes of the game, albeit from an own-goal as Martin Carelse put the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross.