Written by: Ndumiso Nxumalo

Kaizer Chiefs beat Ajax Cape Town by 2-0 to collect maximum points at their new home ground in Durban, Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

Ajax was the first to lay an attack in the third minute when Daniel Cardoso failed to clear, allowing Nathan Paulse to run through on goal, but Itumeleng Khune came out quickly and Paulse put the ball wide.

Chiefs’ responded in the 39th minute when Sibusiso Khumalo ran into the box at the far post to meet William Twala’s cross from the right, but only managed to put the ball over the cross-bar.

Even though it was an open, attacking game played with high intensity but neither side could create any further chances before the break.

After barely two minutes played at the start of the second half, Chiefs took the lead as Lorenzo Gordinho popped up at the far post to head in George Maluleka’s cross from the right following a short corner.

Steve Kompela’s side was now dominant but failed to add to the scoreline to put the game to bed despite several more opportunities.

A few minutes later another substitute, Siphiwe Tshabalala, struck the woodwork with a deflected shot before the onrushing Macha missed on the rebound, with the ball falling just out of his reach.

Lebese finished the game off on the counter-attack in the 94th minute, rounding Brandon Petersen and slotting home after running onto Tshabalala’s through-ball.

The game ended on a rather sour note as the outstanding Maluleka rather harshly received his second caution and was dismissed, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, for a late trip on Tashreeq Morris.

Amakhosi Coach Steve Kompela said it was not an easy game to play and Ajax was the tough opposition.

“I think that Ajax did very well, their game plan was clear with so many dimensions. Any defender will tell you that it very hard to deal with players like Nathan Paulse, but I believe that Gordinho and Daniel Cardoso did very well,” said Kompela.

Ajax coach Rodger De Sa said that it sad to lose as they created lots of chances but failed to force goalkeeper to make a save and it is something that they should work on.

“I was very happy with my boys, they gave it all in the game but at the end of the day the result were not too pleasing, we had a chance to get a draw but Price Nxumalo, unfortunately, missed that chance but it was a good game,” said De Sa.

Weekend results:

SuperSport United     4     –     1     Highlands Park        

Polokwane City          1   –     1     Orlando Pirates    

Cape Town City       1     –     2     Baroka FC            

Free State Stars     1     –     1     Maritzburg Utd        

Golden Arrows     1     –     0     Chippa United        

Platinum Stars    0     –     1     Bloem Celtic