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Ajax, AmaZulu play to thrilling draw

Cape Town - Mabhuti Khenyeza scored with the final play of the game as AmaZulu held Ajax Cape Town to a 2-2 draw in their Absa Premiership clash at Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.

Masilake Phohlongo and Tashreeq Matthews' goals looked sure to lead the Urban Warriors to a much needed win, but Usuthu had other plans.

Mhlengi Cele pulled a goal back for the visitors on 90 minutes before Khenyeza's header rescued a point for the KwaZulu-Natal outfit against his former employers - to move AmaZulu up to ninth on the log standings. The Urban Warriors remain in 14th spot.

Chilly conditions in conjunction with a pitch not really suitable for top-flight football, made for a difficult outing for both teams. Drought in the Mother City has wreaked havoc, and no more so to the Athlone pitch that had equally as much sand as grass.

The playing conditions, though, was the same for both teams and Usuthu would make good use of it for their opening chance. The bobbling ball finding Rhulani Manzini from a corner-kick, but the burly striker failed to keep down his rasping shot on eight minutes.

Bantu Mzwakali then guided his shot in anger from an acute angle wide, before Roscoe Pietersen squandered a golden chance for the hosts in the 18th minute.

Thabo Mosadi's free-kick had the beating of everyone but the defender-come-midfielder who could only succeed in guiding his resulting shot into the side-netting with the goal at his mercy.

Pietersen had another chance to put the hosts a goal up before the break, but watched on in agony as his powerful shot whistled inches wide of Boalefa Pule's goal. The two teams deadlocked at 0-0 at the interval.

Usuthu conjured the first chance after the break as Sduduzo Dlamini forced Jody February into a good save, but the hosts quickly found their rhythm.

Phohlongo with his first goal for the club's First Team in the 52nd minute. The winger's powerful shot too strong for Pule who could only succeed in fumbling the ball into the back of his own net.

Morris doubled the hosts lead soon after - the forward rounding off a superbly worked team goal following good movement from Rheece Evans and Thabo Mosadi.

Stanley Menzo's troops had several chances to increase their lead and failure to do so came back to haunt them.

Cele's goal gave Usuthu hope of a point and they would not leave the Mother City empty handed as former Ajax Cape Town favourite Khenyeza, nodded home the equaliser with seconds remaining.

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