Ajax enter relegation play-offs after Chiefs loss

In a tense and drama-filled 90 minutes, Bernard Parker put the visitors up just after the interval, Ajax showing spirit to bounce back with a goal from Mosa Lebusa, only for Joseph Molangoane to break the home fans’ hearts with a late winner.

The Cape side, never relegated before, will go into the play-offs with the teams which finished second and third in the National First Division, Black Leopards and Jomo Cosmos, after a 15th place finish in the top flight. Their first match will be away at Leopards in Thohoyandou next Wednesday.

It could still get worse for the Parow-based club if they lose the Tendai Ndoro case – in a worst case scenario that could spell automatic relegation.

With no choice but to win, Ajax were on the front foot from the start. But they struggled to create openings, while Chiefs always looked a threat on the break-away.

The first real chance came on 20 minutes when Roscoe Pietesen’s back-heeled effort struck the upright, before Daniel Cardoso cleared off the goal line.

There was also a good chance for the Urban Warriors 10 minutes before the break when Yannick Zakri created space for himself on the let hand side of the box, but Brilliant Khuzwayo, in for the injured Itumeleng Khune, made an excellent save at the near post.

Ajax keeper Jody February was called into the action for the first time in the 44th minute and he kept his team in the game with a smart reflex save after Parker had connected sweetly with a half-volley inside the box.

The Cape side would have been read the riot act by coach Muhsin Ertugral at half-time and they came out playing with purpose after the restart.

But instead it was Amakhosi who were to take the lead – an unmarked Parker heading in from a George Maluleka corner in the 50th minute.

The home side responded well and Tashrique Morris fired a thumping drive just over the bar, before the Ajax striker was kept out with another outstanding save from Khuzwayo.

The pressure paid off in the 64th minute when from a corner kick, Urban Warriors skipper Lebusa picked out the top corner of the net with a superb header.

Siphiwe Tshabalala should have put the Soweto giants back in front two minutes later, but he lacked conviction from 10-yards out in front of goal and February made a good save, before Parker miscued from just five yards out.

With the match on a knife-edge, the action continued to go from end-to-end, although it was Ajax who had two more good chances as Pietersen’s header was kept out by Khuzwayo, before Mario Booysen’s heavy touch saw an opportunity go to waste right in front of goal with 18 minutes to play.

With Booysen moved from defence to attack and Ajax pushing numbers forward, there was plenty of space for the visitors to exploit and they wrapped up the game in the 86th minute when Molangoane smashed the ball into the roof of the net from five yards out after February had parried a cross.

For Chiefs fans, who have endured a largely unhappy season, the win at least secured third spot on the league standings and brings with it qualification to the 2019 Caf Confederation Cup.