AJAX CAPE TOWN VS GOLDEN ARROWS | ABSA

Competition: PSL
Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2014
Venue: Cape Town Stadium
Kick-off: 19:30pm

Lamontville Golden Arrows let a late lead slip as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Ajax Cape Town at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

It was a brave performance from Abafana Bes’thende, who might have grabbed all three points in their bid to avoid relegation.

The visitors led late on through Festus Mbewe and Thanduyise Khuboni, but a brace from Eleazar Rodgers rescued a point for Ajax.

Arrows were without leading scorer Bongi Ntuli, who was not in the match day squad, with Chris Katongo playing a lone striking role.

A cagey opening saw little in the way of goalmouth action, but Arrows were ahead when Toriq Losper was adjudged to have fouled Deon Hotto and the visitors were awarded a penalty on 13 minutes.

Khuboni, restored to the starting line-up, converted from the spot for his seventh of the season.

Bantu Mzwakali should have equalised just past the half-hour mark when he was unmarked at the back post, but he put his effort from six-yards over the bar.

It should have been 2-0 shortly afterwards when Katongo beat the offside trap and, with time to pick his spot, could not beat Anssi Jaakkola in the Ajax goal.

The home side made him pay when they equalised two minutes before the break, Keagan Dolly’s hopeful ball into the box saw veteran Arrows goalkeeper Arthur Bartman beaten in the air Rodgers and the lanky striker headed home.

Ajax should have been ahead four minutes after the break when Nazeer Allie’s hopeful low cross was not cleared and an unmarked Losper was able to pick his spot, but could not beat the 42-year-old Bartman.

Losper’s poor night got worse when he collected the ball inside the six-yard box and with just Bartman to beat, shot well wide. It was an amazing miss.

Arrows had the ball in the back of the net through Festus Mbewe, but it was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Mbewe did have the ball in the back of the net on 87 minutes when he headed past Jaakkola, but Arrows could not hold on the precious win as Rodgers scored his second, also with his head.

Ajax Cape Town (1) 2 (Rodgers 43’, 90’)
Lamontville Golden Arrows (1) 2 (Khuboni 13’pen, Mbewe 87’)

Ajax: Jaakkola, Allie, Hlatshwayo, Lebusa, Scott (Van de Laak 75’), Mzwakali (Lolo 63’), Davids, Losper (Sithole 82’), Coetzee, Dolly, Rodgers

Arrows: Bartman, Zwane, Ntombayithethi, Hotto (Shange 46’), Musonda, Khuboni, Polelo (Mbewe 66’), Sikhakhane, Mngengwe, Bester (Twala 84’), Katongo