Ajax

Free State Stars beat Ajax Cape Town 2-0 at Goble Park on Wednesday evening to make it three Absa Premiership wins on the spin for Luc Eymael’s troops.

Goals from Edward Manqele and Mohammed Anas guiding the hosts to all three points, as they extended their unblemished record at home to the Urban Warriors to an almost unbelievable 15 matches.

Victory moves the Bethlehem-based club up to seventh, as Ajax Cape Town drop to 14th and further into trouble.

Following a rather cagey start, the game started to kick into rhythm with the visitors enjoying the better of the chances in the opening half hour.

Ejike Uzoenyi the main protagonist for the Urban Warriors, with the Nigerian teeing up both Tashreeq Morris and Grant Margeman in quick succession – neither able to convert.

Thabo Mosadi then played the role of architect, but Mosa Lebusa could only succeed in sending his header attempt over the crossbar.

Roscoe Pietersen was next to call Ali Sangare into action with 41 minutes on the clock, the Ajax Cape Town defender’s bullet header well saved by the Ea Lla Koto goal-minder.

Having absorbed all the early pressure, Stars’ provided a sucker punch two minutes short of the interval, as Manqele guided his attempt past Brandon Petersen.

The hosts 1-0 up at the break.

Anas doubled the visitors lead five minutes into the second half to compound the visitors woes.

It would have been even worse had it not been for Petersen who pulled off two stunning saves shortly after to keep his troops in with a shout.

Ajax Cape Town head coach Stanley Menzo duly introduced both Prince Nxumalo and Sedwyn George off the bench, as he went in search of a way back into the clash.

The three-pronged strike-force almost paid immediate dividends as Morris watched his powerful effort canon off the inside of the post and out of danger in the 66th minute.

But, despite all their attacking intent the Urban Warriors could not find a way back into the clash as their dismal away form continues.

Free State Stars (1) 2 (Manqele 43′ Anas 50′)

Ajax Cape Town (0) 0

Teams:

Free State Stars: Sangare; Phungwayo, Mbhele, Keita – Vilakazi, Dlamini (Mashego 86′), Jantjie, Mobbie – Potsane (Mahamutsa 70′), Manqele (Hlubi 57′), Anas.

Ajax Cape Town: Petersen; Evans, Booysen, Nhlapo, Lebusa – Pietersen, Margeman (Nemukondeni 77′), Mdabuka (Nxumalo 53′) – Uzoenyi (George 65′), Mosadi, Morris.

Sourced from PSL Website.