GOLDEN ARROWS VS AJAX CAPE TOWN | ABSA

Competition: Absa Premiership
Date: Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Venue: King Zwelithini
Kick-off: 18h30

Telkom Knockout semifinalists Ajax Cape Town were brought back down to earth with a 4-0 defeat to Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

Three first half goals left Ajax shell-shocked. The Urban Warriors were in fact lucky not to concede five – Arrows also hit the bar and missed a penalty.

Red-hot striker Richard Henyekane showed that there is plenty of life in the Abafana Bes’thende striking department after the departures of players like Mabhuti Khenyeza and Norman Smith over the last two seasons.

It took Henyekane just four minutes to open the score when he put the ball over the head of Ajax keeper Sean Roberts after a pass from Francis Kombe.

Kombe, the scorer of Arrows’ only goal in the Telkom Cup defeat to Ajax on Sunday, was a constant thorn in the visitors defence with his energetic play which was punctuated by several shots on goal.

Njabulo Manqanya was also instrumental in the Durban side’s attack and was unlucky not to notch a goal in the 10th minute when his shot crashed into the bar.

Kombe made it 2-0 after 14 minutes when he headed home Manqanya’s cross.

A rash challenge by Roberts on Philani Shange after 32 minutes gave Henyekane the chance to add to Ajax’s woes, but his spot kick was saved by Roberts.

But five minutes later Henyekane did add to his tally when he pounced to header home from close range after Roberts had failed to hold onto Shange’s shot.

While the goals dried up some what for the home side in the second half, in wasn’t for lack of effort as they continued to prove the Ajax defence.

The Cape side were however by and large able to limit Abafana Bes’thende to long range efforts – Kagisho Dikgacoi was off target with a 25-yard shot in the 56th minute and then Manqanya had an effort from a similar range blocked.

Kagiso Senamela was given the opportunity to shoot from closer range in the 65th minute, but his volley was saved by Roberts.

But Henyekane was determined to make life miserable for Craig Rosslee’s men and completed his hat-trick in the 83rd minute when scored from 12 yards out after an assist by Senemela.