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Cape Town - Chippa United came back from an early goal down, turning on the style as they beat Ajax Cape Town 3-1 at the Buffalo City Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Ajax struck a killer early blow, stunning the capacity crowd in East London when Prince Nxumalo headed in from close range following Riyaad Norodien’s second minute corner kick.
Nxumalo should have scored again seven minutes later, but mistimed his header which resulted in the ball striking his arm.
The Chilli Boys began to lift their game, Ajax keeper Anssi Jaakkola was called into action on 23 minutes, reacting smartly to punch clear a free kick by Eric Chipeta, the lively Joseph Molangoane having done well to draw a foul just outside the area.
Norodien though was proving to be lively for Roger De Sa’s side and he had two decent chances, sending a long range attempted chip onto the roof of the net after 18 minutes before he blazed a volley over the bar a few minutes later from the right hand side of the box.
While the home side started to enjoy the lion’s share of possession, it was Ajax that continued to look more of a threat in front of goal, and they could have added a second goal on 40 minutes, but Franklin Cale shot straight at Chippa keeper Daniel Akpeyi.
Chippa came out firing after the break and were back on level terms in the 55th minute when Molangoane found Zulu in the box, the former Kaizer Chiefs striker turning smartly before picking out the far corner of the net, this after he had hit the crossbar a minute earlier.
Molangoane was having a superb afternoon and he was to put the home side in front on 60 minutes when he burst clear down the right flank, beating Jaakkola with a measured shot at the near post.
Zulu nearly added a third with a volley that fizzed past the post, before Nxumalo went even closer at the other end as his volley rattled the woodwork and then Zulu drew a smart save out of Jaakkola as the game became an end to end thriller.
Norodien was to miss from right in front of goal with 15 minutes to go as the action continued to come thick and fast.
Ajax pushed hard for an equaliser, but it was Chippa’s day in East London as Xola Mlambo scored with a sublime effort over Jaakkola’s outstretched hands from 35-yards out.
