Ajax Cape Town continued their late surge up the Absa Premiership log standings with a 1-0 win over Chippa United at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane on Saturday afternoon.
Thabo Mosadi’s second-half strike leads the Urban Warriors up to eighth on the log standings, while their opponents remain in serious danger of relegation.
From the get go you could sense the urgency within both side’s with the Chilli Boys eager to ease their relegation fears – same for the Urban Warriors, who in-turn harbour top eight ambitions.
As a result, the game would conjure constant chances at either end of the pitch with the first notable opportunity falling the way of Prince Nxumalo in the eighth minute. Daniel Akpeyi, though, was up to the task to keep out the striker’s rocket from an acute angle.
At the other end of the pitch Lerato Manzine squandered a golden chance eight minutes later. But with the goal at his mercy he could only succeed in scuffing a harmless shot straight at Brandon Petersen.
Petersen was called into action once more – just short of the 30 minute mark – this time the goal-minder showed superb control to keep out Phetolo Sekome’s dipping effort.
Akpeyi ended the stanza the busier of the two shot-stoppers with the burly Nigerian quick off his line to deny Mosadi, before doing well to keep out Roscoe Pietersen’s rocket.
Despite a catalogue of chances, the opening 45 minutes would end goalless.
The first chance of the second half would fall to the visitors with a mix-up in the Chilli Boys penalty area almost leading to a goal, but Kristopher Bergman was well positioned to clear from danger.
Petersen then showcased why he has been drafted back in between the sticks for the Cape side with a world class save to deny Manzine from point-blank range in the 55th minute.
The Ajax Cape Town goal-minder was at it again three minutes later, this time to deny Sekome’s who’s free-kick attempt was heading for the top corner of the net.
Mosadi would finally break the deadlock in the 79th minute, pouncing on a defensive mistake before firing the ball past Akpeyi – to send the traveling fans into delirium.
Chippa applied late pressure on their visitors, but the Urban Warriors defence held firm as they recorded a second successive clean-sheet.
