Ajax Cape Town beat a 10-man Platinum Stars 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out in an uninspiring Telkom Knockout first-round match at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.
It was hollow victory for Ajax, who played against 10 men for 80 minutes without scoring. Ajax showed little desire to win, while Stars coach Miguel Gamondi played his hand superbly. His striker Luis Renteria watched in horror as Ajax keeper Andre Petim saved his 62nd-minute penalty.
Stars were unlucky to finish the half a man short when referee Jonas Nhlapo sent off defender Joseph Mkalipa in the 40th minute.
Ajax should have taken the lead in the 12th minute but striker Mahout Khenyeza missed a sitter. Khenyeza then capitalised on a glaring defensive error.
With plenty of time and only goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini to beat, the former Bafana Bafana striker sliced his shot wide of the target. George Mofokeng did well to deny Khenyeza a close-range strike on goal in the 34th minute.
Kapini did well to fist Ajax skipper Brett Evans’s free kick out of danger. The Ajax midfielder shot over the crossbar in the 50th minute but he gave away the penalty 12 minutes later when he handled Mofokeng’s goal-bound shot from a corner. His goalkeeper Petim made a spectacular save from Renteria’s spot kick. Petim went the right way and palmed the South American striker’s shot for a corner.
Ajax’s replied two minutes later when substitute Franklyn Cale’s shot was deflected for a corner. But the home side failed to take advantage of an extra man.
With neither side showing any desire to score, this dull match went into extra time.
Evans came close with a clever chip two minutes into extra time. But still Ajax failed to display any urgency against the determined 10 men from Stars. As a result the game fell to the lottery of a penalty shoot-out. – Sapa