Swallows, Ajax clash ends all even
Ajax Cape Town and Moroka Swallows played out to an entertaining 1-1 draw in an Absa Premiership match played at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.
It was an evenly matched and exciting game throughout, with both sides intent on attacking at every chance. In the end, Ajax’s late first half goal from Musa Lebusa was cancelled out by Siyabonga Nomvethe’s 70th minute effort - a fair result.
Swallows made some early inroads into the Ajax half and had a decent chance on goal after 11 minutes, but Bennett Chenene’s final ball was neither a cross nor shot.
Four minutes later and Ajax had their first chance, with Mabuthi Khenyeza being denied a goal on debut by the agility of Birds keeper Greg Etafia.
Chances followed for both side as Abia Nale, on loan at Ajax from Kaizer Chiefs, saw his effort from 12 yards out hitting the base of the upright while at the other end of the field Sean Roberts made a great save to keep out Rudi Isaacs’ volley.
Then just before the halftime break the hosts took the advantage when Musa Lebuso slid in to convert Billiat’s cross just a couple of yards out from goal.
Three minutes after the break and the first chance arrived for Swallows as Lefa Tsutsulupa played in Chenene with a great bit of vision, but on the stretch the former Pirates winger just failed to make contact with the ball.
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An opportunity arrived for the Cape side a minute later when Billiat hammered the ball across goal, but Cecil Lolo’s attempted finish was very poor.
More chances followed for Ajax as Billiat smashed a shot just wide from outside the box, the Zimbabwean then setting up Khenyeza as the game moved past the hour mark, only for the latter to send his parting shot straight at Etafia.
But it was the Birds who were to score next as Tsutsulupa played in Siyabonga Nomvethe, who finished with a typically clinical strike across Roberts and into the far post.
There was a late chance for Dikgang Mabalane to secure all three points, but he fluffed his shot from only 10-yards out.
Ajax Cape Town (1) 1 (Lebusa 45’)
Moroka Swallows (0) 1 (Nomvethe 70’)
Ajax : Roberts, Lolo, Hlatshwayo, Mokeke, Lebusa (Allie 58‘), Graham, Billiat, Losper, Dolly (Scott 58‘), Nale, Khenyeza
Swallows: Etafia, Da Costa, Isaacs, Lekgothoane, Nergadze, Mapemba, Tsutsulupa (Machapa 87‘), Chenene, Mashego (Chabangu 75‘), Obada (Mabalane 59‘), Nomvethe
