Prince Nxumalo © Gallo Images

Two early goals from Prince Nxumalo and Bantu Mzwakali guided Ajax Cape Town to a 2-0 win over Bloemfontein Celtic in an Absa Premiership clash at Athlone Stadium on Saturday evening.

Victory moves the Urban Warriors back up to eighth, with games against Orlando Pirates and Baroka FC to follow in the penultimate and final round of fixtures.

The Urban Warriors got off to the perfect start as Nxumalo found the back of the net on home soil for the first time this year, providing the finishing touches to a flowing move in the fourth minute.

Mzwakali with the perfect pass to set free Neo Makua down the left flank, who in turn cut in field before finding Nxumalo – the burly striker weaved his way past Patrick Tignyemb before rolling the ball into an open net.

Having ignited the first, Mzwakali provided the finishing touches to the second as the hosts doubled their lead in the 19th minute. Nxumalo unselfish as he teed up his teammate after piercing the Celtic defence – Mzwakali quite literally walking the ball into the back of the net.

In desperate search of a reply, Phunya Sele Sele pressed forward in attack with Brandon Petersen down well to keep out Fiston Abdul Razak’s powerful effort in the 26th minute.

Petersen was on hand once more two minute later, this time to deny Lyle Lakay who subsequently squandered a golden chance to half the deficit soon after.

The hosts saw out the rest of the half in relative ease as they headed for the tunnel 2-0 up.

Phunya Sele Sele dominated the entire second stanza with Alfred Ndengane seeing his header attempt wide from close range in the 57th minute.

Second-half substitute Ayanda Dlamini then squandered a golden chance for the visitors 10 minutes later as he failed to hit the target after losing his marker inside the area.

Lantshene Phalane was unlucky to see two late chances go a-begging as Celtic saw their poor run in the Mother City extended.

The Free State side remain in 12th place on the log standings as a result and in serious danger of relegation, heading into the final two rounds of fixtures.

Ajax Cape Town (2) 2 (Nxumalo 4′ Mzwakali 19′)

Bloemfontein Celtic (0) 0

Teams:

Ajax Cape Town: Petersen; Lebusa, Coetzee, Pietersen, Isaacs (Chipeta 80′) – Graham, Mdabuka, Mzwakali – Makua (Eksteen 89′), Mayambela (Kabwe 62′), Nxumalo

Bloemfontein Celtic: Tignyemb; Hotto, Letlabika, Ndengane, Dube – Lebri (Mabaso 72′), Maruping (Mahlasela 36′), Phalane, Lakay – Nyatama, Abdul Razak (Dlamini 59′)

This article was sourced from the PSL website.