ABSA Premiership

Result: Ajax Cape Town 2-2 Mamelodi Sundowns

Date: 17 September 2013

Venue: Cape Town Stadium

Ajax Cape Town and Sundowns played to a thrilling 2-2 draw, after an exciting second-half, with all four of the goals coming in the last 45 minutes, including a controversial penalty. Former Ajax man Khama Billiat also hit the woodwork twice and could easily have won the game for Downs.

In just the third minute Eleazar Rodgers got on to the end of a Keagan Dolly cross, but his shot went straight into the hands of Kennedy Mweene.

In the eighth minute Rodgers had another golden opportunity as he beat the offside trap and raced free, but he chose to cross rather than shoot over an advancing Mweene and couldn’t find Dolly and Rashid Sumaila was able to clear.

In the 12th minute Khama Billiat was set up by Punch Masenamela after the left-back ran down the touchline and pulled it back for Billiat, but his first touch was too strong and he had to stretch to make a shot which went straight to Brandon Peterson.

A minute later Billiat made a good run down the touchline and his cross across the goalmouth got the better of Peterson but no Sundowns players could get onto the end of it.

In the 23rd minute Telinho had a half chance for Ajax, after receiving a good ball from young Bantu Mzwakali, who was impressing on debut, but he needed two touches of the ball and his shot deflected off the back of Bryce Moon and went over the goal.

The rain began to fall after the half hour mark as Sundowns dominated the possession, Ajax seemingly happy to counter attack at pace when they did get the ball.

Dové Womé made a good run to collect a long ball in the 36th minute and laid it back to Billiat but his shot from the edge of the box went straight at Peterson.

In the 40th minute Manyama, got a brilliant little pass from Dolly and was surging forward but was brought down by Sumaila on the edge of the box. Mzwakali stepped up to take the free kick but his curling shot clipped the cross bar and went over.

In the ref’s optional time Rodgers set Dolly up with a good pass, but Dolly’s shot from just outside the area flew straight at Mweene who blocked it and recovered to gather the ball, and at half-time it was 0-0.

Bongani Zungu scored the opener in the 51st minute, a great low shot past Peterson into the opposite corner. Masenamela delivered a good cross from the deep into the box, and Dominic Isaacs and Cuthbert Malajila both jumped to make the header. Isaac’s clearance fell into the path of Zungu, who finished superbly.

But Sundowns lead was short-lived. Dolly equalized in the 55th minute as he picked up a loose pass from Sumaila on the edge of the box, charged down the left and his powerful shot-come-cross snuck into the near post under a diving Mweene.

A minute later Billiat should’ve given Sundowns the lead but his shot, from a good Zungu cross, struck the post and bounced clear.

In the 66th minute Nathan Paulse, who had replaced Rodgers at half-time, won a penalty as he fell over Alje Schut’s leg. Manyama blasted the penalty past Mweene to give Ajax a 2-1 lead.

Katlego Mashego came on for Sundowns in the 75th minute and immediately took a free kick which forced a great save from Peterson.

Cuthbert Malajila equalized for Sundowns in the 80th minute after a goalmouth scramble from a corner. Malajila got onto the end of the corner kick and headed it at Peterson who saved, but couldn’t hold onto the ball. It fell to Zungu but his shot was also blocked by Peterson, however Malajila had got back to his feet and this time he made no mistake, and the ball flew into the goal.

Sundowns could have been in the lead a minute later, but Billiat, after dribbling into the box, hit the woodwork once again, his shot flying into the crossbar and bouncing clear.

How they started today:

Ajax Cape Town: Brandon Peterson, Dominic Isaacs [c], Cecil Lolo, Ritus Krjauklis, Thato Mokeke, Abbubaker Mobara, Stélio Ernesto (Telinho), Bantu Mzwakali, Eleazar Rogers, Lebogang Manyama, Keagan Dolly

Mamelodi Sundowns: Kennedy Mweene, Alje Schut [c], Rashid Sumaila, Punch Masenamela, Bryce Moon, Hlompho Kekana, Teko Modise, Bongani Zungu, Khama Billiat, Dové Womé, Cuthbert Malajila
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