United end Ajax hoodoo

Maritzburg United ended their six-match winless run again Ajax Cape Town when they defeated the Urban Warriors 2-0 in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Harry Gwala Stadium on Friday night.

Both goals came in the second half with Bongolwethu Jayiya opening the scoring soon after the restart, before Michael Morton doubled the lead from the penalty spot.

The Urban Warriors threatened first in the 9^th minute when Tashreeq Morris ran onto a headed pass from Eleazar Rodgers, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Shu-aib Walters.

United had a similar chance in the 18^th minute as Heinrich Isaacks was played through by a header from Terrance Mandaza, but Anssi Jaakkola came off his line to deflect his effort wide.

Jaakkola was called into action again in the 26^th minute as he reacted quickly to stop a header from Mohammed Awal from creeping into the bottom right corner.

Granwald Scott and Toriq Losper both tried their luck from outside the box in the 32^nd minute, but both efforts sailed over the crossbar.

The Team of Choice had two late chances but they also failed to hit the target with Mandaza heading wide in the 35^th minute, while Nhlanhla Vilakazi did the same in the 43^rd minute.

The opening goal came in the 49^th minute when Jayiya volleyed the ball into the back of the net from inside the box after he was set up by a header from Isaacks.

Walters made a good stop on the 55^th minute to keep his side in the lead, diving to his left to stop a shot from Scott.

United doubled their lead in the 64^th minute as Morton converted calmly from the penalty spot after Nazeer Allie was adjudged to have found Vilakazi inside the box.

Ajax tried to get back into the game but Walters made a great save to stop a long range effort from substitute Koen van de Laak.

Both goalkeepers came out on top in the 80^th minute, with Jaakkola using his feet to deny Mandaza, while Walters produced an acrobatic save to tip Rodgers’ header over the crossbar.

Maritzburg United (0) 2 (Jayiya 49’, Morton pen. 64’)

Ajax Cape Town 0

Teams:

Maritzburg United: Walters, Awal, Booysen M (Booysen D 57’), Evans, Cloete, Morton, Mkhize (De Jongh 78’), Mandaza, Vilakazi (Lentjies 86’), Jayiya, Isaacks

Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola, Lolo, Coetzee, Allie, Lebusa, Scott, Mobara, Morris, Losper (Sithole 83’), Lark (vd Laak 50’), Rodgers

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