Posted in Club News, Match Report, News, Team News on Feb 27, 2017.
Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town played to a one-all draw in an Absa Premiership match at Cape Town’s Athlone Stadium. The Urban Warriors got ahead in the second half after which Daniel Cardoso equalised in the 79th minute.
There were some changes to Chiefs’ starting line-up compared to last week’s 1-0 win over Highlands Park. First of all, Erick Mathoho came back from suspension and returned to the starting XI, while Cardoso kept his place in the side due to Lorenzo Gordinho missing the match against Ajax due to having collected four yellow cards.
George Maluleleka had recovered from his slight calf strain, while Gustavo Páez came on for Bernard Parker, who was on three yellow cards. Obviously, coach Steve Komphela didn’t want the on-form Parker to miss next week’s Soweto Derby due to getting a possible fourth yellow card, hence the striker was benched.
Amakhosi were clearly the better side, although this didn’t lead to too many great goalscoring opportunities.
However, there was a fine chance for Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 12th minute, but he hit the crossbar.
Ajax also got a few minor chances, but overall it was Chiefs that had the upper hand in the first half. Tshabalala was again in fine form, above all in the first half, while Ramahlwe ‘Rama’ Mphahlele again performed well, regularly creating danger on the right flank.
The second half started more or less with the first, with the visitors being the more positive team, looking at opportunities to get the opener.
However, slightly against the run of play, it was the Urban Warriors that netted the game’s opener through Nathan Paulse’s header in the 59th minute.
That’s when coach Komphela started to ring the changes, bringing on William Twala for George Lebese.
The Glamour Boys continued to press for a goal and, eventually, it was Cardoso who scored with a header in the 79th minute. It came as a result of a beautifully weighted free-kick from the left by George Maluleka. It was Cardoso’s first goal in an official match wearing the Gold and Black jersey.
Ajax, on the other hand, looked a few times dangerous on the counter, getting a few good chances.
Eventually, it finished in a 1-1 draw, which means that Amakhosi five game win run came to an end, although the Glamour Boys keep undefeated for seven league games in a row.
Amakhosi are now in third position, having collected 34 points from 19 games.
Chiefs next host Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 4 March (kick-off is at 15:30).
Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Paulse 59’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Cardoso 79’)
Ajax Cape Town: February; Evans, Pietersen, Lartey, Lebusa; Mosadi, Mdabuka, Kabwe, Mayambela (Nxumalo 87’); Mzwakali (Isaacs 66’), Paulse (Morris 76’)
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Cardoso, Masilela; Molangoane, Katsande, Maluleka, Tshabalala, Lebese (Twala 60’); Páez (Parker 79’)
There were some changes to Chiefs’ starting line-up compared to last week’s 1-0 win over Highlands Park. First of all, Erick Mathoho came back from suspension and returned to the starting XI, while Cardoso kept his place in the side due to Lorenzo Gordinho missing the match against Ajax due to having collected four yellow cards.
George Maluleleka had recovered from his slight calf strain, while Gustavo Páez came on for Bernard Parker, who was on three yellow cards. Obviously, coach Steve Komphela didn’t want the on-form Parker to miss next week’s Soweto Derby due to getting a possible fourth yellow card, hence the striker was benched.
Amakhosi were clearly the better side, although this didn’t lead to too many great goalscoring opportunities.
However, there was a fine chance for Siphiwe Tshabalala in the 12th minute, but he hit the crossbar.
Ajax also got a few minor chances, but overall it was Chiefs that had the upper hand in the first half. Tshabalala was again in fine form, above all in the first half, while Ramahlwe ‘Rama’ Mphahlele again performed well, regularly creating danger on the right flank.
The second half started more or less with the first, with the visitors being the more positive team, looking at opportunities to get the opener.
However, slightly against the run of play, it was the Urban Warriors that netted the game’s opener through Nathan Paulse’s header in the 59th minute.
That’s when coach Komphela started to ring the changes, bringing on William Twala for George Lebese.
The Glamour Boys continued to press for a goal and, eventually, it was Cardoso who scored with a header in the 79th minute. It came as a result of a beautifully weighted free-kick from the left by George Maluleka. It was Cardoso’s first goal in an official match wearing the Gold and Black jersey.
Ajax, on the other hand, looked a few times dangerous on the counter, getting a few good chances.
Eventually, it finished in a 1-1 draw, which means that Amakhosi five game win run came to an end, although the Glamour Boys keep undefeated for seven league games in a row.
Amakhosi are now in third position, having collected 34 points from 19 games.
Chiefs next host Orlando Pirates in an Absa Premiership match at FNB Stadium on Saturday, 4 March (kick-off is at 15:30).
Ajax Cape Town (0) 1 (Paulse 59’)
Kaizer Chiefs (0) 1 (Cardoso 79’)
Ajax Cape Town: February; Evans, Pietersen, Lartey, Lebusa; Mosadi, Mdabuka, Kabwe, Mayambela (Nxumalo 87’); Mzwakali (Isaacs 66’), Paulse (Morris 76’)
Kaizer Chiefs: Khune; Mphahlele, Mathoho, Cardoso, Masilela; Molangoane, Katsande, Maluleka, Tshabalala, Lebese (Twala 60’); Páez (Parker 79’)
