Polokwane - Ajax Cape Town recorded a valuable 2-1 PSL victory against Polokwane City at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Tuesday night.
The Ajax goals came from Thabiso Nkoana and Tashreeq Morris while an own goal by Abbubaker Mobara gave Polokwane City a glimmer of hope.
Ajax Cape Town came into Tuesday's match with a draw away at AmaZulu and a win at home against Mamelodi Sundowns, and they continued to surprise with a first-minute goal by Nkoana.
Nkoana buried his effort with his right foot following an assist by in-form midfielder Travis Graham.
In the ninth minute, a free kick was awarded to Polokwane City for a foul by Mobara on the star striker of the home side, Puleng Tlolane. However, Jabu Maluleke’s effort was cleared away from the danger area.
Then it was the turn of Ajax goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola to show why he is so highly regarded. He made a good save to deny Maluleke in the 17th minute and five minutes later the big ‘keeper prevented another goal.
Jaakkola’s saves seemed to give Ajax added confidence and just before half time they doubled their lead when Morris got on the end of a cross by Nathan Paulse to net from close range.
Just a few minutes into the second half and the visitors were asking questions of Polokwane City once more as Paulse got up to win a header, but sent the ball straight at Dino Visser in goal.
For the first 15 minutes of the second half both sides lacked bite in the final third of the field as no clear-cut scoring chances were created.
Ajax midfielder Granwald Scott went close in the 71st minute when his effort flew over the crossbar as Ajax began to solidify at the back in an effort to hold onto their 2-0 lead.
In the 81st minute Paulse could not trouble Visser with his free kick after he won a foul in a challenge with Tlou Molekwane, who was booked for the infringement.
Then, in the 87th minute, Mobara scored an own goal as the home side saw a glimmer of hope. Immediately though Ajax coach Roger de Sa brought on Lance Davids to slow the game down and add some experience in his midfield for the dying moments of the game.
Ajax goalkeeper Jaakkola made yet another good save in the 90th minute, this time to deny Tlolane an equalising goal while Molekwane was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Scorers:
Polokwane City (0) 1 (Mobara 87og)
Ajax Cape Town (1) 2 (Nkoana 1’ Morris 42’)
Teams:
Polokwane City: Visser, Molekwane, Lichaba (Ndou 71’), Mnqibisa, Tshilo, Maluleke, Shiba, Cole, Mncwango (Majara 56’), Kanyenda, Tlolane
Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola, Lolo, Coetzee, Mobara, Lebusa, Graham, Morris (Cale 86’), Scott, Paulse, Nkoana (Davids 89’), Dolly (Nguye 72’)