Orlando Pirates beat Ajax Cape Town 1-0 at the Orlando Stadium on Wednesday evening
Pirates made their intentions clear from the kick off, get the ball forward and put the Ajax defence under pressure before they settle down. The ploy worked and with only four minutes on the clock, Mbuyane had the ball in the back of the Ajax net after a flick on by McCarthy.
Ajax settled and their midfield enjoyed a fair percentage of possession.
The Urban Warriors had their first attack on the 15 minute mark when Carelse hit the ball across the Pirates goal area but Rusike headed the ball wide of the target.
Fanteni, the Ajax striker was shown the first yellow card of the game for a deliberate hand ball.
Pirates enjoyed a good period of possession around the 21st minute and they took the game to Ajax. The “Buccaneers” almost capitalised but for the efforts of Nazeer Allie who intercepted the ball at the near post.
Terror Fanteni was the target-man of the Ajax attack but was adjudged to be offside after Rusike’s cross found him at the far post. Minutes later a long ball from Booth found Fanteni who just strayed offside.
Ajax was the more aggressive of the two teams in the second half with Booth playing a central role in defence and attack, first he cleared the danger in his penalty area with a header then minutes later a long ball from the Ajax defender found Jenniker in an advanced position on the Ajax left flank but he is fouled. The resultant free-kick is hit towards Booth but Josephs punched the ball to clear the danger.
Ajax enjoyed more of the ball possession as they took the game to Pirates who defended with purpose earning Ngobeni and Mbuyane yellow cards within one minute of each other.
Billiat was sent clear of his marker but his shot at goal was off target just as the match official signalled the halftime whistle.
Ajax made two substitutions at the start the second half, Mokeke and Vilakazi came on for Jenniker and Carelse respectively to give Ajax a more attacking stance. The changes paid off as Ajax won two successive corners within a minute only for the Pirates defence to clear the ball up-field.
Pirates responded and pulled off Mjempu at left back, replacing him with Nzunga. In the 58th minute Pirates won a throw-in deep in the Ajax half but Allie was alert and headed the ball clear at the far post.
In the 61st minute, Mbuyane found space on the Pirates left flank but his cross into the penalty area was headed clear by Booth. The Ajax central defensive paring of Booth and Allie settled well and cleared all Pirates could throw at them.
A minute later, Pirates won a free-kick just outside the Ajax penalty box, McCarthy’s shot hit the wall and Westerveld was well placed to save off Chansa.
The Ajax coach made his last substitution of the game when he brought on Manyama for Rusike. The change spurred the Ajax offensive as Pirates played deep in their own half.
Billiat almost put Ajax ahead when he ran onto a flick-on from Fanteni, however the Pirates keeper saved the resultant shot, then Manyama cut inside from the left flank and forced a good save from Josephs in the Pirates goal.
A rare Pirates attack late in the second half caught Ajax on the break, McCarthy found space inside the Ajax penalty area but he pulled his shot well wide, then the Ajax fans had their hands on their hearts as Sander Westerveld tried to dribble Benni and lost the ball but the Pirates striker was blown up for a foul as the ball rolled across the box towards the goals.
In the last minutes of the game it was all Ajax, Sander hit a long ball forward for Booth to head down towards Billiat who set-up Maluleka. Josephs made a point blank save as the Ajax midfielder hit the ball on the volley.
Pirates defended to the last whistle to hold onto the three points.
Go to: Pirates edge Ajax
