Ajax snatch late draw
Ajax Cape Town snatched a late draw against Supersport United after United took the lead via Zuma but Fanteni was on target to ensure Ajax get their share of the points.
Ajax almost took an early lead when Khama Billiat broke clear on the right flank but his goal-bound shot was cleared off the line by Davis Nkausu.
Minutes later it was Supersport who came close to opening the score when George Maluleka fired his shot just wide of Westerveld’s goal.
Both teams played attacking football with swift attacks after cautious build-up play. For Ajax, Toriq Losper and Khama Billiat had good attempts at goal but Ronwen Williams, in goal for Supersport was in well-positioned to make the saves.
Paulse forced Westerveld to make a save halfway through the first half, then Cale came close with a curling free-kick that flew just wide of the Ajax goal.
Ajax enjoyed the bulk of possession in the first half but they could not convert possession into goals.
In the last quarter of the first half Nazeer Allie made a crucial last minute tackle on Paulse to deny the United striker from intercepting a pass behind the Ajax defence, allowing Westeveld to gather the ball to avert the danger.
On the other end, Billiat beat the United defence only to hit his shot into the side-netting from an acute angle.
Supersport came at Ajax in the opening minutes of the second half and the move paid off when Westerveld miscued his clearance to the feet of Sibusiso Zuma who chipped the ball over the Ajax keeper into the back of the net to give United the lead.
Vilakazi replaced Losper (Ajax) and Khenyeza replaced Paulse (United) in the 66th minute of the game and then ten minutes later Alcardo van Graan replaced Van De Laak as the coaches made the changes to add sharpen their attacking options.
Ajax took the game to United late in the second half with Van De Laak, Scott, Billiat and Vilakazi all testing the United keeper in search of an equaliser; however it was Terror Fanteni who broke the deadlock when he scored from close range in the 79th minute.
His goal triggered a celebration that earned him a yellow card after he threw his shirt into the crowd to indicate his delight at scoring Ajax Cape Town’s first goal of the new season.
Ajax: Westerveld, Hlatswayo, Allie, Booth (Vezi 77’), Lebusa, Scott, Billiat, Losper (Vilakazi 65’), Van de Laak (Van Graan 77’), Fanteni, Manyama
SuperSport: Williams, Fransman, Nkausu, Thwala, Diouf, Maluleka (Pietersen 80’), Gyimah, Hartog (Mdluli 45’), Cale, Paulse (Khenyeza 67’), Zuma.
Goalscorers;
Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Fanteni 79’)
SuperSport United: (0) 1 (Zuma 50’)
for this season can we have our middlefielders shooting accurately from range, can they please take shots and score or force keepers to make saves.