PSL
Leopards add to Ajax's woes
2012-11-11 17:52
Khama Billiat of Ajax Cape Town takes on Thulani Ntshingila of Black Leopards (Backpage)
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Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town's miserable season continued when they went down 1-0 to Black Leopards at the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The win was the first in charge for new Leopards coach Ian Palmer, but he had Ajax's weak efforts in and around goal, as well as a suicidal moment in defence, to thank for the three points, rather than his own team's brilliance.
The Cape side for the most part dominated the first half, in terms of possession and in the way they took the game to the Limpopo team.
But despite some attractive football, the Urban Warriors were unable to turn their superiority into clear cut chances on goal and Leopards 'keeper Azwindini Maphaha was not overly stretched.
It was to his credit however that he moved smartly off his line to get in a block on Khama Billiat on the edge of the big box after the Zimbabwean appeared to be in on goal.
Billiat was Ajax's biggest threat, but too often his final decision making was poor and opportunities were wasted.
There was a chance also for Lebohang Manyama on the half hour mark, but his curling shot from 25-yards did not dip quickly enough.
The home side were finally gifted with the chance to take the lead, 10 minutes after the restart, when Siphamandla Sithole was ruled to have impeded Billiat in the box.
But Manyama's spot kick was a very weak one and Lidoda Duvha 'keeper Maphaha was able to make a comfortable save.
It was Ajax who remained in control, containing to push and probe, but without too much success.
There was always the danger of a goal against the run of play and that's exactly what happened with 10 minutes to go when a poor header back towards goal from Aidan Jenniker let in Joshua Obaje to score in a practically unguarded net.
Having struggled throughout the match to cause any damage around the Leopards box, there was not much Ajax could do to muster any kind of comeback as they saw the clock ticking down towards the inevitable.