ANDREW MUCHINERIPI, Johannesburg | Tuesday 8.30am.
AJAX Cape Town scored twice within 35 seconds during the second half to defeat Mother City 2-1 on Monday and end a disappointing start to the Castle Premiership.
Marrying players from Seven Stars and Cape Town Spurs was always going to take time, but try telling that to the success-obsessed football fans of South Africa.
Sloppy defending and timid finishing led to away defeats by Wits University and Free State Stars and Dutch coach Leo van Veen displayed hints of frustration when he lamented the lack of attacking punch.
His concerns lessened after 49 minutes of the Cape derby at Athlone Stadium when Theo Hempe headed in a Edwin Kasinauyo corner and Dillon Sheppard set up Zimbabwean Kasinauyo for the second.
Alton Meiring reduced arrears with eight minutes left for Mother City, who will have mixed feelings about hosting Kaizer Chiefs at the same venue on Sunday afternoon.
While City would probably prefer less formidable opposition than the Amakhosi as they try to find their feet in the national championship, the prospect of a large crowd will cheer the club treasurer.
Wits University, dismissed by most of the media as likely relegation candidates, moved into second place behind Manning Rangers with a deserved 1-0 victory over Moroka Swallows at Rand Stadium.
A superb goal by Sam Magalefa after 12 minutes was a rare bright spot during a match that did little to excite a small public-holiday crowd with an inept Swallows attack never troubling goalkeeper Roger de Sa.
Sundowns maintained their 100 percent record with a 2-0 win over Bush Bucks at Odi Stadium. Cameroon midfielder Roger Feutmba struck just before half-time and Sibongakonke Ndlovu added a second after 67 minutes.
Newly promoted Classic made it two wins from three outings by defeating Bloemfontein Celtic 3-1 in Tembisa through late goals from Arthur Zwane and Isaac Masanabo.
Depleted SuperSport United and Santos achieved their first victories of the season and there is more Premiership action tonight when Kaizer Chiefs host Free State Stars at Johannesburg Stadium (8pm).
Results:
Sundowns 2 Bush Bucks 0; Moroka Swallows 0 Wits University 1; Classic 3 Bloemfontein Celtic 1; SuperSport United 2 Hellenic 1; Mother City 1 Ajax Cape Town 2; Santos 2 African Wanderers 0.