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Chiefs deny Ajax maximum points
01/03/2008 23:18 - (SA)
A pulsating Absa Premiership fixture at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday afternoon saw log leaders Ajax Cape Town held to a 1-1 draw by Kaizer Chiefs.
Both goals came in the second stanza with the home side striking first when Nathan Paulse scored his fifth goal in four games.
Kaizer Motuang Jr levelled matters for Chiefs before David Obua's missed penalty cost the visitors the chance to claim all three points.
The first half was a lively affair, with Chiefs enjoying the better of the early chances.
Some enterprising play by the Urban Warriors in the last 20 minutes of the half did not result in many goal-scoring chances, but did force the Amakhosi into several rash challenges, which were punished by referee Daniel Bennett with several yellow cards.
Chiefs looked dangerous early on, with Mabuthi Khenyeza in particular looking lively. However, the former Golden Arrows striker should have done better in the third minute when indecision resulted him side-footing the ball wide of goal from just six yards out, while in the 15th minute he struck the upright from close range.
Apart from an off-target glancing header from Nathan Paulse early on, Ajax had to wait until the 27th minute for their first real opportunity on goal, which came via an audacious long-range strike by Mkhanyiseli Siwahla.
The Ajax youngster seemed to have no right to score from nearly 40 yards out, but a stunning effort forced Ithumeleng Khune into making a brilliant fingertip save.
Two minutes later an excellent build-up involving several Amakhosi players deserved to result in a goal, but Khenyeza's shot was blocked by Brett Evans.
Youngster Sandile Zuke, thrown into the fray by Chiefs coach Muhsin Ertugral, was struggling to make an impression in the first half and did not endear himself any further to the Amakhosi faithful when he fired a shot over the bar in the 35th minute.
Just before the half-time break the on-form Paulse was presented with the chance to get his name on the scoresheet, but his header failed to trouble Khune.
Chiefs spurned two good chances early on in the second half through Khenyeza and Gerald Sibeko and were duly punished when Ajax scored the opener in the 49th minute, the goal coming from a Nathan Paulse, who finished clinically with a first time strike following a Russell Mwafulirwa cross.
Mwafulirwa could have found himself on the scoresheet eight minutes later, but failed to connect properly with a cross at the back post.
Ertugral was forced to gamble with a double substitution in the 66th minute, bringing on Kaizer Motaung Jr and Obua.
Less than a minute later the move paid dividends as Motaung took advantage of a slip in the Ajax defence to blast home a volley, giving Vonk no chance with his first touch of the match.
An 81st-minute handball by Bageta Dikulu presented Chiefs with a golden opportunity to claim all three points, but Obua blew the chance by firing the ball high over the cross bar.
Ajax: Vonk, Moon (Isaacs 74'), Ferreira, Bageta, Evans, Enoh, Siwahla (Cale 63'), Shumana, Mwafulirwa, Paulse, Selolwane
Chiefs: Khune, Tau, Bhasera, Tsotetsi (Obua 66'), McCarthy, Tshabalala, Khanyeza (Motaung 66'), Mathebula, Zuke (Sibeko 46'), Nengomasha, Bartlett
- SuperSport
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