10-man Ajax down Swallows
2005-09-15 07:46
Cape Town - Ajax Cape Town, playing with 10 men for 51 minutes, deservedly beat Moroka Swallows 2-1 in a Premier League game played at the Athlone Stadium on Wednesday night. The score was 1-1 at the interval.
The game started at a fast pace and both teams were guilty of robust play.
A poor display in goals by Greg Etafia saw the ball go to Seuntjie Motlhajwa who scored giving Ajax the lead in the 7th minute.
Swallows levelled the score in the 36th minute when Innocent Chikoya centred from the left and Henrico Botes stabbed the ball home.
Unfortunately, referee Thabo Nkosi had a poor game and allowed several dangerous tackles to go unpunished. However, in the 39th minute, he sent Franklyn Cale for an early shower.
Although down to ten men, Ajax were doing most of the attacking in the second half. Swallows' Mark McVeigh broke down the right and his 15 metre drive was well saved by a diving Moeneeb Josephs.
Ajax were unlucky in the 63rd minute when Mulekelayi Kanku's lob was brilliantly tapped over the bar by the Etafia
In the 73rd minute Niang of Swallows kicked high over the bar from 6 metres out.
Ajax took the lead in the 86th minute when Brett Evans took a free kick from the right and it was deflected into his own goals by Chikoya.
In referee's optional time, Nathan Paulse stabbed the ball past the goalkeeper but the ball hit the body of Mokoro who was on the line to go out.
- SAPA