Ajax frustrate SuperSport

It may appear as though Ajax were doing their neighbors Cape Town City a favor by holding Matsatsantsa to a 0-0 draw after The Citizens kept their title aspirations alive when they edged another capital city-based side in defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns. But the reality is: Ajax are caught up in a relegation battle, and anything more than a lose win do them the world of good.

SuperSport remain third and unbeaten in 18 league games, with their only defeat tracing as far back as the opening day of the season away to Platinum Stars. While the Urban Warriors picked up their third draw on the trot.

The opening 10 minutes saw a cagey start of the tie with little action in both goal mouth areas.

It was Thabo Mnyamane who brought about the spark in the match when he tested Ajax goalkeeper Jody February in the 15th minute after breaking through from the right flank to drive a low shot, but February was alert as he palmed the ball out for a corner.

The corner, taken by Mnyamane, unsettled Ajax’s defence as they struggled to clear their lines as Jeremy Brockie and Kingston Nkhatha scrambled for the loose ball, which was eventually went out of touch for an Ajax goal kick.

Mandla ‘Bullet’ Masango misfired twice in as many minutes, the first after 30 minutes of play. After receiving a sublime through pass from Reneilwe Letsholonyane, the pacey winger hesitated to make a decision in the 18-yard area to see Ndiviwe Mdabuka kicking the ball to safety.

The second time around, he was at the end of SuperSport counter attack after Mnyamane won the ball in their own half, he released Nkhatha down the right flank, who then laid it on to a well-positioned Masango, the former Kaizer Chiefs man fluffed again as he shot straight into February.

After the sides went into the break deadlocked, it was Mnyamane’s tame shot which got proceedings underway. That attempt was followed by a number of counter attacks from the home side, but Ajax’s resolute defence remained wide awake.

Onismor Bhasera was taken to the cleaners by Thabo Mosadi’s blistering pace down the right, who then found a surging Mark Mayambela, whose header was parried by February, falling for Bantu Mzwakali who struck the wood work in vigor.

In the 75th minute, Reyaad Pieterse was forced to make a brilliant save after Mayambela benefited from a Mzwakali defence splitting pass.