/ 7 December 2008

Ajax sink Bucs on home turf

Ajax Cape Town won a vital psychological battle over Orlando Pirates when they edged out the Buccaneers 1-0 in an Absa Premiership clash.

Ajax Cape Town won a vital psychological battle over Orlando Pirates when they edged out the Buccaneers 1-0 in an Absa Premiership clash at the Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday night.

The only goal was scored by Mabhuti Khenyeza in the 63rd minute.

This match was billed as the dress rehearsal for next Saturday night’s Telkom Knockout final between the two sides. The final will be played at Durban’s Chatsworth Stadium and the Urban Warriors have now boosted their hopes of winning the Knockout after beating Bucs in a league fixture in their own backyard a week before the final.

But too much cannot be read into what will happen in the final as both coaches are expected to field different line-ups to the players that took the field in this disappointing league encounter.

The fans observed a minute’s silence before the start of the match following the sad death on Friday of former Bucs midfield star of yesteryear Chippa Chauke.

Both teams fielded weakened sides due to suspensions and both had a number of players on two bookings.

Bucs coach Ruud Krol rested his captain and defensive strongman Lehlohonono Seema, midfield star Teko Modise and winger Bennett Chenene
who all had two bookings going into this clash.

However, he opted to play right back Rooi Mahamutsa who was also on two bookings. Had the young defender picked up a third yellow card against Ajax he would have been ruled out of the final.

But while Ajax coach Craig Roslee rested two of his players, goalkeeper Sean Roberts and midfielder Mfundo Shumana — who are on two yellow cards — he gambled by fielding Brazilian right back Eduardo Ferreira and midfielder Clifford Ngobeni.

The move backfired when Ferreira was booked on the half hour for a dive by referee Buyile Gqubule and will be suspended for the final.

Bucs were on top for most of the first half played on a wet and slippery pitch after heavy rains fell in the Johannesburg area in the
afternoon.

Dikgang Mabalane headed wide of the Ajax post in the 10th minute when he connected a cross from Lucky Lekgwathi.

Four minutes later Bucs striker Adriano Pires showed a selfish streak when he cut to the goalline and instead of crossing he opted for glory and his shot was saved by Ajax reserve keeper Andre Petim.

Mahamutsa tried his luck with a long-range shot that flew past the upright a minute later. Ajax opted to hit their hosts on the counter and overlapping fullback Nazeer Allie had his goal bound shot blocked
by the wide awake Mahamutsa in the 24th minute.

The Urban Warriors’ best chance of the first half came in the 29th minute when lively winger Franklyn Cale turned Pires inside out and unleashed a pile driver that Pirates keeper Senzo Meyiwa did well to fist away for a corner.

Bucs came close two minutes from the interval when Mabalane’s curling free kick inched past the fat post.

The players obviously had the minds on next Saturday’s cup final as nothing happened of any note for the first 15 minutes of the second half. The players seemed content to go through the motions until Ajax
striker Khenyeza unleashed a clever shot that sailed past the upright
on 61 minutes.

Then two minutes later teammate Nhlanhla Shabalala tried with a 20m shot that failed to trouble Meyiwa.

But Ajax’s pressure paid off in the 63rd minute when Khenyeza notched his eighth goal of the league season when he rammed home the only goal of the night into an empty net from a rebound after Meyiwa blocked Dipsy Selelowane’s shot and the rebound landed at the dangerous striker’s feet.

The former Kaizer chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker made no mistake with his gift chance to put Ajax 1-0 ahead.

Krol brought on two strikers Lebo Mokoena and Siphelele Mthembu to add more punch to his attack but the home side failed to respond and never looked like scoring even if the match had continued into Sunday.

But the result has added more spice to a cup final that is expected to be sold out early next week. – Sapa