Posted in News on Sep 14, 2011.
On the back of their recent loss in the MTN8 Final to Orlando Pirates the Amakhosi will be looking to bounce right back, and maintain their 100% record in league fixtures this season and pick up their fourth consecutive win which will see them move back above Sundowns and into first place.
The match against Ajax is Chiefs first league game this season against a team who are not from Johannesburg; their previous three meetings were against Jomo Cosmos, Moroka Swallows and BidVest Wits teams who hail from Gauteng.
Cape Improvement
Last season the Amakhosi did not have their best run against teams from Cape Town, winning just one of six games against them. In Cape Town they collected two points out of a possible nine as they drew against Vasco Da Gama and Santos and lost to Ajax. Their failure to pick up a significant number of points in these games in the end landed up costing Chiefs the title as they lost out by a single point in the title race.
In the corresponding fixture last season Ajax defeated Chiefs 1-0, Brent Carelse scoring from the penalty spot to give the hosts the win. Improving their fortunes against the teams from Cape Town will be foremost on Chiefs minds.
Recent history
Chiefs and Ajax have already squared off this season the Amakhosi prevailed over the two legged MTN8 Semifinal, going through to the final on away goals after the teams ended deadlocked at 1-1 on aggregate. Although Chiefs generally struggled against Cape sides in 2010 – 2011 their best performance of the season did come in a 4-0 triumph over the Urban Warriors. That score line in the penultimate fixture of last season effectively put a serious dent in Ajax’s title ambitions, as they were pipped to the championship by Orlando Pirates on the final day of the season.
In away games against the Urban Warriors Chiefs have won thrice in twelve outings in the Mother City, their 3-0 triumph two seasons was their biggest away win over Ajax. Since Vladimir Vermezovic assumed the helm of the Amakhosi in 2009 – 2010 the four league games he has been involved in against Ajax have produced 11 goals with Chiefs scoring 9 and Ajax 2.
Current form
Chiefs go into the game on the back of some good recent performances in the league scoring 6 goals in their opening 3 games, defeating Cosmos 2 – 1, Swallows 2-0 and Wits 2-1. All of Chiefs’ league goals this season have been scored by Josta Dladla and Lehlohonolo Majoro, who have each contributed with 3 goals, should either find the back of the net against Ajax they would become the first Chiefs player since David Modise in the 1996 – 1997 season to score in four consecutive league games for Chiefs.
Ajax lost their opening two league encounters but bounced back winning their last league clash, which was in the Cape derby against Santos. They won the game 1-0 courtesy of a Khama Billiat goal.
