Ajax Cape Town paid the penalty for resting some of their experienced players when they were beaten 3-1 by Supersport United in a Premiership Soccer League match played at Newlands on Tuesday.
Ajax opened the score in the sixth minute when Dominique Isaacs made good ground down the right and centred for Thembinkosi Fantini, who put in a low shot that beat goalkeeper Calvin Martin.
Four minutes later, the visitors were on level terms when Lungisina Ndlela dispossessed Marco Mthembu of the ball 6m from the goal line and put it past Moeneeb Joseph.
Fantini then missed a sitter in the 15th minute when he should have controlled a pinpoint cross, but instead elected first to time the ball way off target.
The visitors should have gone two goals clear, in as many minutes, when Sibusiso Mahlangu struck a bullet of a shot from 20m, but was denied by a brilliant Joseph save, and then in the 35th minute when Mahlangu’s header hit the cross bar.
However, Supersport eventually took the lead in the 52nd minute when a good move from the left saw the ball go to Manuel Bucuane, whose strike went in off the far upright.
The visitors were now well in control of the game and increased their lead in the 65th minute when they were awarded a penalty with skipper Ricardo Katza making no mistake. — Sapa