Ajax beaten by the Birds

Ajax Cape Town’s inconsistent form in the Absa Premiership continued on Friday night when they suffered a 3-1 loss to Moroka Swallows at the Cape Town Stadium.

The Urban Warriors were second best throughout, and though they had a brief glimmer of hope when Keagon Dolly’s goal midway through the second half made it 2-1, a late strike direct from a free kick by Lerato Chabangu put an end to their ambitions.

On Eight minutes the Birds went ahead through a superbly-taken goal from Edward Manqele. Lerato Chabangu was the architect, playing a perfectly-weighted through-ball for the former Free State Stars striker, who beat goalkeeper Brandon Petersen with a low shot into the bottom corner.

The Cape Town side gradually began to get a foothold in the game and by the midway point of the first half they were beginning create half-chances with regularity, though Greg Etafia’s willingness to come quickly off his line helped out his defence greatly.

The Nigerian goalkeeper made a brave, smothering block at the feet of youngster Tasriq Morris on 39 minutes and took a boot to the face for his troubles, though thankfully it was nothing serious.

It took just six minutes of the second half for the Birds to double their advantage. Winger Dikgang Mabalane sprinted free down the right and picked out Siyabonga Nomvethe with a cut-back – the veteran striker coolly picked out the bottom corner with his right foot to make it 2-0.

By the 62^nd minute Urban Warriors coach Muhsin Ertugral had used all three of his substitutions in an attempt to spark his team into life, and within 10 minutes they pulled a goal back.

Lebogang Manyama played in Rodgers, who saw his low shot well saved by Etafia, but youngster Keagon Dolly was able to steer the rebound into an empty net to put Ajax back in contention.

Yet just when the hosts thought they would be able to complete a remarkable comeback, the Birds re-established their two-goal lead with 10 minutes of regulation time to play. Chabangu beat Petersen direct from a free kick just a few metres outside the box to make it 3-1 and effectively end the match as a contest.

Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Dolly 72’)
Moroka Swallows (1) 3 (Manqele 8’, Nomvethe 51’, Chabangu 80’)

Ajax: Petersen, Hlatshwayo, Krjauklis, Isaacs, Lebusa, Mobara, Dolly, Shabalala (Telinho 46’), Alexander (Mzwakali 62’), Manyama, Morris (Rodgers 56’)

Swallows: Etafia, Isaacs, Mungomeni, Cohen, Mokgothu, Mbekile, Nergadze (Ogle 79’), Chabangu, Mabalane (Hendricks 86’), Manqele (Obada 71’), Nomvethe

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