Tuks put 3 pass Ajax

Ajax Cape Town suffered just their second Absa Premiership defeat of the season on Wednesday, going down 3-0 to University of Pretoria at Tuks Stadium.

AmaTuks got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring in the 11th minute through Geoffrey Massa, who prodded in from close range after a Khethukuthula Zwane corner-kick was nodded into the path of the Uganda international, 1-0.

Things went from bad to worse for the visitors eight minutes later, with Thabo Mnyamane doubling the hosts’ lead. Massa cut infield before setting-up the former North-West University marksman, whose first time effort from the edge of the area left Anssi Jaakkola with no chance.

The hosts continued to create the better of the chances with Ajax failing to produce the goods in the final third, Nathan Paulse and Keagan Dolly superbly kept quiet by Steve Baker’s troops.

Massa went close to completing his brace on the stroke of half-time, turning his man before hitting a powerful effort straight at Jaakkola.

The Urban Warriors looked a different force after the interval and were unfortunate not to pull one back 10 minutes into the second stanza, Dolly’s volley brilliantly blocked by a Tuks defender.

Clifford Mulenga almost made the desired impact off the bench in the 66th minute, his powerful cross-shot from an acute angle had Washington Arubi beaten, but not the crossbar.

Ajax should’ve pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute, but poor finished let them down. First Travis Graham hit his stinging effort straight at Arubi, before Dolly fluffed the rebound wide of goal.

Massa sealed the deal with a minute of regulation time remaining. A poor clearance from Jaakkola landed favourable for the sturdy striker who turned and chipped the stranded keeper, 3-0.

University of Pretoria (2) 3 (Massa 11’ 89’ Mnyamane 19’)

Ajax Cape Town 0

University of Pretoria: Arubi; Kekana, Monyai, Jaure, Nkwana, Ngubane, Mosadi (Maruping 83’), Ketjijere, Zwane, Mnyamane (Mathosi 90+1’), Massa (Nyondo 90’)

Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola; Allie, Mobara, Coetzee, Lebusa (Ncube 46’), Graham, Morris (Mulenga 46’), Scott, Paulse, Mzwakali (Lolo 65’), Dolly