Jomo Cosmos convincingly beat Ajax Cape Town 3-0 in a Castle Premiership clash played at the Mehlareng Stadium in Tembisa on Saturday.
Cosmos left-back Sydney Plaaitjies scored the first goal in the 29th minute, Innocent Ntsume doubled the lead three minutes before halftime and Davies Mwape sealed victory for Ezenkosi with a good individual effort five minutes into the second half.
Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral rested midfielder Clifford Ngobeni for this clash and also had Thembinkosi ”Terror” Fanteni on the bench. Without this dynamic duo the visitors struggled to impose themselves against a Cosmos outfit aiming to cement a top eight finish.
Ajax keeper Andre Petim, replacing the injured Hans Vonk, pulled off a good save in the 13th minute to deny Dikgang Mabalane a likely goal. Mabalane turned provider when he swung in a corner kick which Plaaitjies went up for swiftly and headed the ball into the net.
The Urban Warriors’s speedy wingers Franklyn Cale and Bryce Moon tried to bring their team back in to the game but the Cosmos defence marshalled by Valery Nahayo stood firm against their swift attacks.
When Moon got a shot at goal in the 34th minute Walter Khumalo pulled off a good save, much to the delight of the 500 or so Cosmos fans.
Ajax maintained the pressure as halftime approached but when Khumalo cleared the danger and found Mwape in space on the other end, the visitors could do nothing but watch a swift counter-attacking move. Mwape found Bongi Macala in acres of space down the right but instead of going for goal he unselfishly set-up Ntsume whose low drive from 20 yards out gave Petim no chance to make a save.
Five minutes later referee Zolile Mthetho signalled for halftime.
Ertugral brought on Fanteni for Moon and Russel Mwafulirwa for the ineffective Roberto Santo. While the substitutes tried to settle in, Cosmos struck again through Mwape. After receiving the ball just in Ajax’s half, Mwape outran Clayton Jagers and with Petim static in goal, the Zambian hitman placed his shot beyond the hapless keeper.
Cosmos knocked the ball around comfortably as Ajax seemed out of sorts and were beaten by a hungrier, more mobile outfit.
Ertugral had no excuses to offer.
”They were better than us today, and even if I say we rested key players it is no excuse, Cosmos were hungrier and quicker to the ball than our boys, well done to them,” Ertugral said before jokingly adding, ”We did do something good today, they won and should make it for the Supa8 competition now.
Ajax are fourth with 44 points, one above Cosmos who are in sixth place. – Sapa