Urban Warriors march on with 3-0 win in Bloem
Ajax Cape Town made it three wins in four games with a convincing 3-0 victory away to Bloemfontein Celtic at the Dr Molemela Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Urban Warriors are starting to look a new side under coach Stanley Menzo and were full value for the win which takes them up to 10th place on the PSL standings, while Celtic are hovering just above the relegation zone following only one win in their last nine matches.
The Cape team played some excellent football in the first half and could well have been more than a single goal in front at the break.
Their first chance saw Prince Nxumalo turning Erwin Isaacs’ 11th-minute cross just wide at near post before Rivaldo Coetzee arrived fractionally too late to get enough contact with a header from an 18th-minute free-kick.
Having earlier made a potentially goal-saving challenge in his own box, Mark Mayamabela was instrumental in Ajax taking the lead on 20 minutes. The former Celtic winger beautifully flicked Roscoe Pietersen’s ball into the path of Grant Margeman, whose shot was blocked by Patrick Tignyemb, Margerman then heading the ball goal-wards for Ndiviwe Mdabuka to tap in from close range.
Mdabuka nearly made it 2-0 ten minutes later when he shrugged off a couple of challenges on the edge of the box before curling the ball against the upright.
Celtic had a few shots from range but did not trouble visiting keeper Jody February. The Cape side, on the other hand, we looking full of ideas and some clever play by Margeman on 35 minutes released Mdabuka on goal, but the midfielder was denied by a good save at the near post by Tignyemb.
Celtic looked sharper after the break and had the chance to level the game on 52 minutes when Mayambela brought down Mthokozisi Dube in the box and a penalty was awarded.
But Musa Nyatama’s spot kick struck the upright as Ajax kept their lead intact and 15 minutes later it was Cape team who extended their lead when a long ball up field found Thabo Mosadi, who slipped a great ball in for Nxumalo to beat Tignyemb from close range.
Deon Hotto and Atusaye Nyondo wasted chances to pull one back for Phunya Sele Sele and instead the Urban Warriors wrapped up proceedings when the impressive Margeman set up Mosadi, who finished deftly in the box on 86 minutes to seal a well-earned three points.