Ajax Cape Town bounced back from their weekend defeat to Kaizer Chiefs by beating Platinum Stars 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match at the Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday night.

Ajax had looked in total command when first half goals from Cecil Lolo and Tashreeq Morris gave them a 2-0 half time lead. But an own goal from Rivaldo Coetzee 10 minutes from time made it a nervy final few minutes for the Cape team.

The hosts started the game in a positive vein, eager to get bodies and balls in to the box early on, although most of their initial shots were blocked by defenders.

With eight minutes gone the lively Franklin Cale was nearly in on goal, but had the ball nicked away from him a couple of yards out by Vuyo Mere, with Cale also not too far off with an overhead kick a few minutes later.

Ajax’s early promise was to be rewarded after 15 minutes when Lolo received the ball 20-yards out from goal before beating Dikwena keeper Kabelo Dambe with a curling left-footed shot.

The North West side attempted to play themselves back into the game, but failed to make any significant inroads into the Ajax defence. Instead it was the hosts who were to take a two goal advantage just before the half hour when Cale’s curling free kick landed on the feet of Tashreeq Morris, who had a simple first time tap in from five yards out on 27 minutes.

There was little more in the way of goalmouth action during the final 15 minutes of the first half as the home side remained in control of proceedings.

The second half saw the game becoming increasingly physical, and with the tackles flying on, neither side were able to create chances on goal.

There was finally a shot on goal in the 68th minute, when Letladi Madubanya brought out a fine reflex save from Ajax keeper Anssi Jaakkola.

There was little however that Jaakolla could do 10 minutes later when a deflected cross came off the boot of Ajax defender Rivaldo Coetzee and ended up in the back of the net as the hosts saw their lead halved.

The closing minutes of the game saw the Urban Warriors having to do some increasingly desperate defending, with coach De Sa getting more and more anxious on the sidelines until the result was finally sealed.

Ajax Cape Town (2) (Lolo 16’, Morris 28’) Platinum Stars (0) 1 (Coetzee 79’ og)

Ajax: Jaakkola, Lolo, Allie, Coetzee, Lebusa, Cale (Nkoana 90’), Scott, Graham, Dolly (Davids 83’), Morris, Paulse (Mzwakali 71’)

Stars: Dambe, Mere, Semenya, Gumede, Mpeta, Mathe, Madubanya, Ng’ambi, Tshabalala (Manzini 80’), Mabena, Rodgers