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Paulse double keeps Ajax top
16/02/2008 20:26 - (SA)
Thohoyandou - Ajax Cape Town's good form in the second half of the season continued when they came back from a goal down at the Thohoyandou Stadium to beat hosts Black Leopards 2-1 in their PSL match.
Leopards led 1-0 at the half-time interval, but playing with 10 men in the second half, the home side allowed Paulse to strike twice in the space of 15 minutes to secure all three points.
Ajax's first chance of note came in the 32nd minute when former Cosmos striker Russell Mwafulirwa rose well to meet Dikilu Bageta's cross, but his header was saved by Lidoda Duvha goalkeeper Mashudu Mamphitha.
The home side took the lead in the 39th minute, thanks to Kondowe, who buried the ball past Vonk and into the back of the net with a low shot from inside the box after beings set up by Myron Shongwe.
Mwafulirwa tried to level matters for The Urban Warriors just before the break, but was unable to keep his 30-yard shot on target.
Shortly after that the hosts suffered the set back of being reduced to 10 men when Alpheus Kekana was sent for an early shower after being shown a second yellow card (both were for foul play).
Thabiso Hlalele should have given 10-man Leopards a two goal cushion just after the restart, but he failed to find the net with an angled shot from inside the big box.
Bryce Moon did likewise for the Cape side in the 50th minute, but when presented with a close range chance, Nathan Paulse made no mistake as he buried Dipsy Selowane's 52nd minute cross to level the scoreline.
Twelve minutes later Paulse had the chance to put the log leaders ahead for the first time, but his 14-yard shot was saved by Mamphitha.
However, when Bryce Moon broke down the right flank and whipped in an inviting cross, Paulse accepted the invitation gratefully as he planted a header past Mamphitha, making it 2-1 to the Urban Warriors in the 67th minute.
With the Ajax defence in an uncompromising mood, Leopards only hope of scoring again seemed to be from long range, but efforts such as Jabu Maluleke's 30 yard shot in the 80th minute which flew over Hans Vonk's bar were not about to produce the desired effect.
Paulse was not given the chance to claim a hat-trick as he was substituted by Sifiso Vilakazi in the 79th minute.
The former Free State Stars soon tried to get his own name on the score-sheet with a long range effort, but Mamphitha made the required save.
Mwafulirwa missed two late chances to add Ajax's tally as first he saw his header from six yards go wide and then had a close range effort saved by Mamphitha.
At the other end of the field Maluleke had the chance to earn Leopards a point, but the opportunity went a begging when his shot from inside the box failed to bring out a save from Vonk.
David Makgale also had a late chance, but again a wayward shot ended any hopes of an equaliser.
- SuperSport
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