Ajax Cape Town registered a 1-0 win against Amazulu in an entertaining Premier Soccer League (PSL) match at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Sunday. The score was 0-0 at half-time.
In other matches, Free State Stars moved to position two on the log against Platinum Stars and Lamontville Golden Arrows beat Black Leopards 1-0.
The Capetonians scored their all-important goal in the 48th minute from the head of on-form striker Thembinkosi ”Terror” Fanteni, who gave Amazulu goalkeeper Lawrence Ncala no chance.
Amazulu also had their chance to equalise in the 69th minute when they were awarded a penalty, but Pere Ariweriyai failed to convert from the spot. The penalty was given when Mfundo Shumana fouled Amazulu’s top goal-scorer, Dumisani Ngwenya, inside the box.
The result ensures Ajax maintain the top spot on the log table with 23 points from 10 matches, while Amazulu have 14 points from the same number of matches.
The game started at a swift pace with both sides trying to outfox each other. The opening 15 minutes were dominated by the home side with Simo Dladla, Nhlanhla ”Shakes” Zwane and Effort Sithole gelling nicely in the midfield.
Ajax did come back strongly in the dying minutes of the half as they pushed Usuthu backwards and were rewarded with five corners.
The real chance of the first half fell to Zwane in the 26th minute but his shot hit the side net.
Ajax coach Craig Rosslee then introduced Mkhanyiseli ”Makalegs” Siwahla into the attack in place of Jonathan Fransman, who failed to impress.
Siwahla combined well with Thembinkosi Fanteni in the 44th minute, but Russel Mwafulirwa’s header was well saved by Lawrence Ncala.
Amazulu tried in vain for the equaliser, but Hans Vonk kept them at bay on numerous occasions.
Free State Stars move up
Free State Stars moved to position two on the log when they beat Platinum Stars 3-1 in Bethlehem on Sunday. Stars led 2-0 at half-time.
Both teams played entertaining football, but Kinah Phiri’s charges showed more aggression.
Free State Stars’s Prince Olomu scored a hat-trick after the visitors concentrated all their attention on the PSL’s top scorer this season, Free State Stars’s Diyo Sibisi.
Olomu scored his first goal in the fifth minute with a ground shot that gave goalkeeper Tapiwa Kapini no chance. Olomu scored again in the 38th minute to prove that he is just as good as Sibisi.
In the second half, Free State Stars continued to dominate and Olomu made it three in the 84th minute. Platinum Stars’s Brett Grobler scored the consolation goal just before the final whistle.
With their determination and commitment, Free State Stars showed why their promotion to the elite league was no fluke. From 10 games they have won five, drawn three and lost two and are on 18 points.
Platinum Stars, after losing coach Owen de Gama to Orlando Pirates, are struggling in position 12 and from 10 games have managed only 10 points with two wins, four draws and three losses.
Arrows win
Lamontville Golden Arrows beat Black Leopards 1-0 in a PSL match before a capacity crowd at Durban’s King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.
The only goal of the match was scored midway through the first half by Arrows midfielder Abia Nale.
The home team dominated the better part of the game, but their strikers failed to convert the many scoring opportunities presented to them. — Sapa