Ajax stay on track for title

Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town's push for the league title was boosted with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Vasco da Gama at Athlone Stadium on a windy Saturday night.

The Cape side are starting to show that they have consistency and determination to match their skill and ability.

The first half was everything expected from a derby between two sides who are based only 50 metres apart.

There was passion and high tempo throughout, some slick passing combined with tough tackling.

The early chances fell to Vasco, but Sibusiso Zuma and Jonathan Armogam were both wasteful with 25-yard efforts.

Around the 20 minute mark, the Urban Warriors began to stamp their authority upon proceedings and it paid dividends when Jason Barnard spilled Derek Decamps' cross, allowing Thulani Serero to sweep the ball into the net from 12 metres out.

Vasco though should really have made it 1-1 in the 28th minute, but Lebo Mothibantwa missed an easy chance after some excellent play by Zuma.

There were further chances for Ajax, but both Khama Billiat and Clayton Daniels were off-target.

The PSL rookies did, however, manage to draw level in the 53rd minute, when Zeka Karkee found himself handily positioned two yards out to unwittingly deflect Francois Adams' cross into the net.

But a moment of individual brilliance from Serero in the 79th minute sealed a deserved win for Ajax.

Serero cut through the Vasco defence like a knife through hot butter, playing a one-two with Sameehg Doutie before stabbing the ball into the net, showing amazing close control and blistering pace.

Ajax easily played out the final minutes as Vasco failed to find a late surge of energy, and it was almost 3-1 in the 92nd minute when Billiat crashed a shot into the bar.