Aces hand Ajax first loss this season

A single goal from Dennis Masina handed Ajax Cape Town their first defeat in the Absa Premiership this season as MP Black Aces won 1-0 in a league match at the Mbombela stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Ajax were far from their best throughout the match and struggled to string any kind form together as Aces ran them ragged with their high work-rate.

The Urban Warriors did start brightly, however, with an 18-yard shot from Cecil Lolo striking the side-netting 12 minutes in.

Ten minutes later Keagan Dolly came close for the away side as well when he burst down the right before cutting inside and seeing his long range effort sail narrowly wide of the post.

Aces began to find their feet after that with Mabhuti Khenyeza the main threat in attack for the home side.

Just after the half hour mark Anssi Jaakkola had to be at his best between the sticks for Ajax after making a fingertip save to deny Khenyeza from the edge of the box.

Jaakkola was called into action again on the stroke of halftime, this time producing a good save to deny Tinashe Nengomasha from long range.

The start of the second half saw Aces piling on the pressure as the Ajax players looked ot be tiring in the sweltering heat.

Finally, in the 65th minute Aces made their pressure tell as Masina opened the scoring.

Jaakkola did well initially to block a Khenyzea effort from roughly 20-yards out, but masina was quickest to react as he tapped home the rebound, 1-0.

Aces continued to control matters after going in front and were unlucky not to double their lead in the 80th minute when Tshidiso Tukane’s 20-yard shot skimmed the wrong side of the post.

In the end a 1-0 result was a fair result as Aces picked up their second win of the season.

MP Black Aces (0) 1 (Masina 65’)
Ajax Cape Town (0) 0

Teams

Aces: Murambadoro, Gumede, Ngalo, Nengomasha, Gyimah, Timm (Tukane 63’), Adusei, Okonkwo, Khenyeza (Mbesuma 82’), Nale, Masina (Ndoro 73’).

Ajax: Jaakkola, Allie, Coetzee, Mobara, Lebusa, Graham (Mzwakali 73’), Nkoana (Ngalande 64’), Scott, Lolo, Dolly (Cale 79’), Morris.