Ajax came from behind to beat 10-man Black Leopards in scorching heat at the Thoyandou Stadium in their Absa Premiership encounter on Saturday afternoon. The home team led 1-0 at the break.
Both played their hearts out from start to finish, but Greg Rosslee’s Cape Town team looked hungrier than Bobby Solomon’s players.
A lapse of concentration late in the first half allowed Leopards striker Fisher Gondowe to open up the score sheet seven minutes before the break, beating Bafana Bafana goalkeeper/trainer Hans Vonck.
Ajax strikers Nathan Paulse and Russell Mwafulirwa tried hard to penetrate the Leopards defence but found the Limpopo defenders in an uncompromising mood.
Referee Lwandile Mfike gave Leopards’ Tlhomto Kekama a red card for a second offence for misbehaving two minutes before the break.
In the second half, in search of an equalising goal, Ajax coach Rosslee substituted Blanch Daniels for Mkhanyiseli Siwahla and Adam Jenniker for Jonathan Fransman. Leopards
were caught at sixes and sevens when striker Paulse equalised five minutes into the second half, easily beating Leopards goalkeeper Mashudu Mamthitha.
Paulse completed his brace in the 65th minute with a beautiful header, making sure that his team registered three points to cement their place at the top of the table.
Leopards coach Solomon made three substitutions, but the home side were unable to overcome Ajax’s dominance. – Sapa