Urban Warriors thump TTM

AJAX Cape Town clawed their way back from a goal down to hammer Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM) 5-1 in their PSL promotion-relegation playoff clash at Bidvest Stadium yesterday.

Ajax’s second-half blitz blew TTM away and took them to the top of the mini-log on goal difference. Second-placed Black Leopards, also on six points with Ajax, have played one match less.

On TTM’s second sortie into the Ajax penalty box, they managed a 12th-minute goal through Thembisani Nevhulamba, very much against the run of play.

Ajax responded with a wave of attacks, but again their finishing let them down. There was also a decided lack of cohesion among the frontrunners.

Another lightning TTM counter-attack nearly resulted in a goal, but a reflex save by Ajax’s Dutch goalkeeper Nick Hengelman denied the speedy Naeem Amoojee, three minutes ahead of the halftime break.

The Urban Warriors made a phenomenal start to the second half by forcing a corner in the opening minute and scored from the set-piece. Siphesihle Mkhize was the scorer.

Three minutes later Ajax grabbed the lead for the first time in the match after Cohen Stander struck a low goalmouth cross which Eleazar Rodgers steered into the TTM goals.

The same two players Stander and Rodgers again combined splendidly four minutes later. After playing identical roles, Rodgers scored to give Ajax a two-goal cushion.

The three-goal burst seemed to provide Ajax’s game with an immeasurable lift and their dominance in the ensuing stages suggested another goal was imminent. On the hour mark, Chumani Butsaka scored goal number four.

The scoreboard kept moving four minutes later when Rodgers buried the ball in the back of the TTM net from the penalty spot. | Herman Gibbs