Maritzburg hold Ajax to a draw

2008-08-27 22:48

Cape Town - Maritzburg United earned themselves a point on their return to the Absa Premiership, thanks to a 1-1 draw against Ajax Cape Town on Wednesday night.

A fast-paced start to the match saw both sides coming within inches of scoring.

In the 4th minute Ajax's Brett Evans struck the cross-bar with his first-time shot after United had failed to clear a corner convincingly.

A couple of minutes later Maritzburg striker Brice Aka saw his header come back off the base of the upright.

In the 14th minute Granwald Scott was clear through on goal, but was foiled by an excellent tackle by United centre back Sylla Mbemba.

Similarly, his defensive partner Bageta Dikulu, made a great tackle to stop Tasiu Mohammed from unleashing a shot right in front of goal in the 21st minute.

It was the home side who looked more threatening during the remainder of the first half - Mabhuti Khenyeza's fiercely struck shot in the 27th minute was well dealt with by keeper Athiel Mbaha, while two minutes before the break Scott's shot dipped just over the goal.

The second stanza got off to a slow start as both sides seemed intent on stamping their authority on the game, with the result that there was very little in the way of constructive football.

Only on the hour mark was there finally something to write home about when Aka's shot from 25-yards out whistled over the bar.

Ajax had Mbaha to thank for the opening goal - the Team of Choice's shot stopper made an elementary error in allowing Khenyeza's shot to sneak through his hands at the near post in the 67th minute.

But United refused to let the set back get them down and equalised just three minutes later when Aka scored on the rebound after his initial shot was saved.

Ajax came close late on when Clifford Ngobeni's top corner bound shot was tipped over the bar by Mbaha, forcing them to settle for a share of the spoils.

- SAPA