The first half was a scrappy and disjointed affair with both teams guilty of giving possession away far too easily as well as incorrect decision-making – half time saw the teams going into the break locked at 0-0.
Ajax looked bright early on and were quick to capitalise on mistakes presented by the Downs defence, which were fairly frequent in the opening minutes.
Eleazar Rodgers, on loan from Sundowns, saw a first minute effort saved by Sundowns keeper Kennedy Mweene.
Lebogang Manyama then wasted a great chance when he took too long to shoot.
With 10 minutes gone Rodgers had another excellent chance, but he was too slow in reacting to a through ball, allowing Mweene to make the block.
The Pretoria side began to play themselves into the game around the 15-minute mark, with former Ajax man Khama Billiat causing problems with some dangerous balls into the box.
Ajax always looked a threat on the counterattack and had several more half chances to score, with Mozambican winger Stelio Marcelino Ernesto twice failing to hit the target.
Goal needed
​The game needed a goal to ignite proceedings and it came just six minutes into the second half, when Bongani Zungu fired in a low shot across keeper Brandon Petersen and in at the far post, following a mistake from Ajax defender Dominic Isaacs.
But the lead was only to last for four minutes as the Urban Warriors hit back with a 56th minute equaliser, Keegan Dolly firing in a shot at the near post that bounced off Mweene's palms and in at the near post.
Following three quick-fire goals, the game remained open, entertaining and there for the taking.
Clear-cut chances were rare though, with Downs substitute Katlego Mashego coming the closest when his 75th minute free kick tipped over the bar.
But the Tshwane side had their goal with 10 minutes to go when Cuthbert Malajila levelled the game with a close-range shot after the ball had hit the upright and bounced around the Ajax box.
Sundowns could have grabbed a winner two minutes after scoring, but Billiat was again unlucky to see his right-footed pile-driver crashing into the crossbar.
There were late half chances for both teams, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result from an entertaining match in a cold and wet Cape Town. – Sapa