Publications
Partners
Cape Town - University of Pretoria suffered a massive blow in their bid for Absa Premiership survival, going down 1-0 to Ajax Cape Town at Tuks Stadium on Wednesday.
Toriq Losper scored the only goal of the game as the Urban Warriors snapped their losing streak. Defeat for AmaTuks leaves them three points behind Jomo Cosmos and just two points above bottom-placed Maritzburg United, who have two games in hand.
In desperate need of a win having watched Cosmos grind out a 1-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs on Tuesday evening, AmaTuks head coach Shaun Bartlett named an attacking line-up as he went in search of nothing but all three points.
Ajax, though, matched the hosts’ desire and dominated the early chances, with Tristyn Coetsee forced into a good save by Tashreeq Morris on 12 minutes.
Losper then tried his luck from 40 yards, Coetsee struggled to backtrack in the heavy rain, but did just about enough to deny the Ajax attacker.
The Urban Warriors didn't have to wait too long for the opener, with Losper getting the better of Coetsee soon after. The ‘keeper managed to keep out his initial effort, but could do nothing to deny Losper, who pounced to net his third league goal of the season.
AmaTuks never really threatened the Ajax goal, with Mpho Maruping guiding his header attempt wide of goal five minutes into the second stanza.
Morris had a chance to double the visitors’ lead in the 83rd minute, but having done well to keep his balance inside the area, the sturdy forward shot wide of goal.
Defender Partson Jaure led a late charge by Shaun Bartlett's troops, with the defender forcing Anssi Jaakkola into a low save in second-half stoppage time. In the end Ajax held on for all three points, to edge closer to the top eight.
