The first match of the lucrative Absa Cup soccer competition proved to be a rerun of last year as Ajax Cape Town ran out easy 3-0 winners over Dynamos at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The home side led 1-0 at the break.
In fact it was only the excellent play of Aime Kitenge in the Dynamos’ goals that kept the score down.
The match also proved to be a triumph for 15-year-old Tsholola Tshinyama who was playing in his first game for Ajax. It was he who put his team ahead in the 41st minute after receiving a pass from Ashley Opperman. The youngster outpaced the defence and to his delight, put the ball in the back of the net.
In the sixth minute a cross from Tshinyama went to Shane Poggenpoel, whose header was weak and went straight to Kitenge.
At the other end an excellent cross from the right went to Jose Macamo, who tried to volley but missed just 8m from the goalline.
In the 13th minute Rodney Mbambo’s shot was brilliantly saved by Moeneeb Josephs in the Ajax goal.
Just after the goal had been scored to put Ajax ahead, Mbambo ran down the right and cut in but his powerful shot went into the side webbing.
In the second half Ajax had the strong south-easter at their backs and they launched many attacks. In the 64th minute they breached the defence when Ernest Mtwali lifted the ball into the goalmouth and Mulekilayi Kanku guided the ball home.
In the 78th minute Josephs was beaten but Brett Evans, with his first touch, kicked the ball off the line.
Ajax totally shut out Dynamos in the 89th minute when Wilfred Mugeyi headed home. — Sapa