Ajax Cape Town enjoyed a 3-2 win over Black Leopards in an intense Premier Soccer League match at Thohoyandou Stadium on Saturday.
The win for the Capetoninans, however, was not good enough to ensure they remained in the championships battle after Kaiser Chiefs scooped the title by beating Moroka Swallows 2-0 at Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday.
The defeat for Leopards has slightly dented their hopes of finishing within the top-eight bracket. This will be decided by the outcome of the Lamontville Golden Arrows-Hellenic clash on Sunday.
Leopards and Arrows are in a fierce competition to secure a top eight finish this season. It was the last match for Leopards, while Arrows wrap up their season against Hellenic.
Saturday’s match started at a blistering pace when the home side fired on all cylinders in search of an early goal.
Mulondo Sikhwivhilu led Leopards when he missed a great chance in the sixth minute.
The home side looked a better bet to score and their efforts were rewarded when Sibusiso Sithole broke the ice from long range to put his side ahead in the 10th minute.
Leopards then hung their heads when they scored an own goal through their captain Duncan Lechefa whose powerful header beat his keeper Amon Phophi as he attempterd to clear a Grant Igesund corner kick in the 19th minute.
The visitors took the lead through Igesund who scored an easy goal in the 22nd minute to to go into the second half with Ajax 2-1 up.
Leopards contunued to exact pressure on Ajax as the visitors’ rearguard stood firm as they thwarted all scoring attempts.
Ajax increased their lead through Mulekelayi Kanku who scored from close range to put the visitors 3-1 up in the 55th minute.
Leopards skipper Lechefa made an attempt at late redemption from his own goal when he pulled one back nine minutes later, but it was a matter of ‘too little too late’ as Ajax retained the upper hand on Leopards, having come away from Cape Town 1-0 up earlier in the season. – Sapa