EAST LONDON, May 6 (ANA) – Ajax Cape Town recorded their second win in as many matches and added to Chippa United’s relegation fears, in beating the Eastern Cape side 1-0 in an Absa Premiership match, played at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London on Saturday afternoon.
Following their mid-week 2-0 win over Platinum Stars, the Urban Warriors, as Ajax are known, relied on a 79th minute right-footed strike by right wing Thabo Mosadi to ensure that they took the three points on offer. This was Mosadi’s third goal of the league season.
Ajax striker Prince Nxumalo had a golden opportunity to open the scoring in the eighth minute of the match, but had his powerful shot pushed away by Chippa goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, at full stretch. The forward could also have got on the score-sheet in the 69th minute, but saw his header effort float wide of the Chippa goal post.
Chippa hardly looked like the battle-hardened, much-feared side that is difficult to beat at home and seldom threatened the Cape Town-based side’s rear-guard in the first 45 minutes. Their best opportunity came in the first half, when central midfielder Mbulelo Wambi forced Ajax goalkeeper Brandon Peterson to stretch and save.
So tight in the league from mid-table down, that two weeks back, Ajax were potential relegation candidates. Two wins has propelled them to 32 points from 27 matches, and within the Top eight teams on the league table, although some clubs still have games to play. Ajax’s next league outing will be a home encounter against Bloemfontein Celtic next Saturday.
Their Top eight dreams could be decided when they travel to face fellow mid-table side Orlando Pirates on May 17, before finishing their league campaign at home to relegation-haunted Baroka FC on May 27.
Chippa may well be ruing their management’s decision to place coach Dan Malesela on ‘special leave’ following the club’s poor run of form since the Festive Season break, which has now seen them without a win in their last 12 league matches, recording six losses and six draws.
The result has placed further pressure on the side, who remain on 24 points from 27 matches. Chippa will have to do things the hard way, when they travel to Tembisa to take on bottom-of-the-log Highlands Park (who are currently on 22 points from 26 games) on Friday.
Follow that, Chippa will complete their league commitments at home to Supersport United (May 20) and away to fellow strugglers Free State Stars (May 27). – African News Agency (ANA)
