Ajax Cape Town made sure they got off to a positive start after the resumption of Premiership action following the January break with a 2-0 win over Platinum Stars at the Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night.
A 35th minute strike by Lance Davids and a goal six minutes from time from SA under-20 international Thulani Serero secured the three points for Foppe de Haan’s charges in a tightly contested affair on a calm summer’s evening.
The first half was devoid of much goal mouth action as the game was played at a high tempo, with both sides fiercely competitive in the tackle as they tried to gain control over the game — even after 90 minutes it would be difficult to single out the dominant team, despite the score-line.
Stars had the first chance of the game after five minutes, but Henrico Botes’s attempted finish was rather tame and the score remained goalless.
Ajax had to wait until the 20th minute for their first real opportunity, but Nathan Paulse was unable to hit the target with a volley from an acute angle after a good piece of control.
Fifteen minutes later however the Cape side were in front as Davids tried his luck from a fairly audacious distance and was rewarded for his optimism, or confidence, as the ball deflected off the wall and flew into the net.
There were chances just after the break as Diyo Sibisi shot weakly at goal for Ajax and then Stars defender Mbulelo Mabizela’s header hit the woodwork, summing up a night for Stars in which fortune failed to smile upon them.
The North West outfit had further chances midway through the stanza, but Hans Vonk saved well from both Dillon Sheppard and Bradley Grobler.
Going into the final 10 minutes, and equaliser would have come as no surprise, but it was Ajax who secured the win as Serero turned home a shot from close range after a flick from Paulse.
In other Absa Premiership matches played on Tuesday, a goal in each half gave AmaZulu a much deserved 2-1 win over neighbours Lamontville Golden Arrows, while Kaizer Chiefs and Moroka Swallows played to a goalless draw at Johannesburg Stadium. In the day’s earlier match, strugglers Jomo Cosmos and Maritzburg United drew 0-0. — Sapa