Posted in News on Mar 19, 2014.
Knowledge Musona was rewarded for his efforts as he scored two late goals to hand Kaizer Chiefs a 2-0 Absa Premiership victory over Ajax Cape Town at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Anssi Jaakkola produced a Man-of-the-Match display to deny Chiefs throughout the majority of the game, but the Finnish international couldn’t hold out for the full 90.
Stuart Baxter’s men arrived for the encounter having claimed the bragging rights of Soweto with their derby win over the weekend, while Ajax were still with only one win under Roger de Sa.
The Urban Warriors were doing well to pressure the home side on the counter attack and saw a good chance go begging when Tsepo Masilela lost possession in the midfield. That allowed for Tasriq Morris and Keagan Dolly to run up the field, but the former’s pass was too long.
Chiefs responded with a chance of their own inside the opening 10 minutes which saw Tefu Mashamaite connect to a corner kick, only to see it cleared by Nazeer Allie.
Siphiwe Tshabalala was then denied an opening goal in the 16th minute when Jaakkola did well to punch away his free-kick from the byline, before Morris drew a save from Reyaad Pieterse at the near post at the other end of the park.
As the opening half drew on, Chiefs started to gain more momentum and were putting the Ajax defence under a tremendous amount of pressure, especially the attacking combination of Musona and Tshabalala.
There was almost an own-goal from Aiden Jenniker, just before the half hour mark, when he passed back to Jaakkola. The Finn was off his line and he had to rush back and throw his body on the line, clearing with the slightest touch of his foot.
Musona and company burst through into the box like a tidal wave in the final minutes of the half, but he couldn’t convert as saw his effort cleared off the line by Thulani Hlatshwayo.
Ajax were immediately put under pressure after the restart as Jaakkola drew two fantastic saves. The first saw Mashamaite’s threatening header palmed away, before the goalkeeper turned Tshabalala’s shot onto the woodwork.
The Amakhosi thought they had taken the lead just after the hour mark when Kingston Nkhatha turned the ball into the back of the net with a bicycle kick, however, it didn’t stand due to Mashamaite’s hand ball.
It just wasn’t going the Glamour Boys’ way as they then saw Nkhatha's effort deflect off Jaakkola's legs to loop over the net and go out for a corner.
Ajax’s best chance of the second half came 15 minutes from time when Pieterse spilled Cecil Lolo's shot into the path of Morris, but the stopper recovered well and pushed it out for a corner.
However Chiefs and, in particular, Musona’s hard work paid off when he burst into the box and poked the ball over Jaakkola five minutes from time.
That wasn’t all from Chiefs though as Musona made it 2-0 with an impressive header from George Lebese's cross.
Teams
Chiefs: Pieterse, Moleko, Mashamaite, Mathoho, Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane (Gould 90’), Tshabalala, Rusike (Lebese 62’), Musona, Nkhatha (Mphela 79’)
Ajax: Anssi, Allie, Isaacs, Hlatshwayo, Jenniker, Sangweni, Morris, Dolly, Scott, Simba (Rodgers 72’), Telinho (Lolo 58’)