SuperSport United coach Gavin Hunt’s fear of the blazing afternoon heat at the Boland Stadium was justified as the Absa Premiership leaders and defending champions huffed-and-puffed to a hard fought 1-1 draw against Ajax Cape Town on Tuesday.
Hunt complained this week about playing matches in the afternoon heat in summer and his concern was justified as United wilted badly in the heat after the break and were forced to hold on for a point and maintain their unbeaten away record this season.
United head the Premiership with 38 points seven better than second placed Santos who meet fourth placed Mamelodi Sundowns at the Super Stadium on Wednesday night, while Ajax move to third on 30 points one ahead of Downs.
Ajax who defeated United 1-0 in the first round are the only side to beat the champions so far this season and have now taken four points from United.
The champions suffered a bad blow in the fifth minute when their goalkeeper Emile Baron was stretched off with a head injury after he collided with Ajax striker Sifiso Vilakazi when both players went for a cross from Nazeer Allie inside the penalty area.
Baron was replaced by Ugandan international Dennis Onyango.
United were on top in the early stages where Thabo September was fractionally wide with two good efforts in the second and third minutes.
In between Ajax’s George Maluleka shot over the United crossbar in the third minute.
But United’s pressure paid off when they won a free kick on the edge of the penalty area in the 16th minute. Daine Klate struck a powerful shot into the far corner giving the Urban Warriors’ veteran goalkeeper Hans Vonk no chance.
But the visitors should have increased their lead when they had the home defence in trouble time and again but paid the penalty for failing to increase their tally when against the run of play Franklyn Cale did well to blast home the equaliser in the 34th minute.
Two minutes later Ajax suffered an injury when Nhlanhla Shabalala was forced to go off injured and was replaced by Clayton Daniels.
United striker Glen Salmon wasted a great chance to regain the lead when he hit his volley from close range over the crossbar in the 41st minute.
Ajax also wasted chances in injury time when Thulani Serero hit his shot over the crossbar and a few moments later Maluleka was day dreaming when he had the goal at his mercy and unbelievably decided to dribble his way into goal and as a result lost possession and a rare chance was lost for Ajax.
Ajax were the better side against a tiring United in the second period. Cale slipped his marker in the 58th minute but after doing all the hard work he made a mess of his shot.
Onyango came to United’s rescue with two successive saves in the 64thminute. The first a great stop from a fiercely struck shot from Cale and from the rebound the Ugandan international Onyango denied Vilakazi a goal from close range.
A minute later a brilliant tackle from inside the six yard area by September denied Vilakazi a shot on goal. Onyango did well in the 67th minute to stop a shot from Sameegh Doutie as Ajax upped the pressure and had the champions on the back foot.
But United showed why they are the champions and favourites to retain the title by closing shot by closing down Ajax and grinding out a hard earned away point. — Sapa