Ntuli brace helps Dikwena sink Ajax

Platinum Stars brushed aside Ajax Cape Town 3-0 in an Absa Premiership match played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Stars moved to position three on the Absa Premiership standings following their victory. On the other hand, Ajax remained tenth on the league table.

Dikwena dominated the encounter and they managed scored in each half, while the Urban Warriors found it difficult to beat goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela on the day.

The Urban Warriors fired the first shot on target just three minutes into the game when Travis Graham played a beautiful pass to Bantu Mzwakali out wide.

The 22-year-old skilful winger then forced Stars goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela into a great save at his near post as the visitors looked to grab an early goal.

At the other end, Ajax's towering shot-stopper Anssi Jaakkola was called into action in the 11th minute parrying away Stars striker Bonginkosi Ntuli's attempt.

In the 25th minute, Stars striker Ndumiso Mabena pulled the trigger from range and his thunderous effort went just over the crossbar with Jaakkola beaten.

The deadlock was finally broken 11 minutes later when Robert Ng'ambi's low pass found Ntuli in the Ajax box and the latter fired past Jaakkola to make it 1-0 to Stars.

Dikwena were leading 1-0 during the half-time break thanks to Ntuli's 36th minute strike who is on-loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.

Masibusane Zongo whipped a corner-kick into the Ajax box eight minutes after the restart and Ntuli's header hit the upright with Jaakkola rooted to the ground.

The home side did double their lead in the 63rd minute when Zongo set Vuyo Mere through on goal and the Stars captain beat Jaakkola with a great finish to make it 2-0.

Ajax substitute Franklin Cale came very close to pulling one back for his side seven minutes later from a free-kick, but Mzimela reacted quickly and made a low save.

With ten minutes left on the clock, Mzimela produced a fantastic save when he turned Ajax midfielder Asive Langwe's effort over the crossbar.

Nevertheless, Ntuli sealed Stars' 3-0 victory when he scored his second goal with a right-footed finish in the 84th minute.

Platinum Stars (1) 3 (Ntuli 36' 84', Mere 63')
Ajax Cape Town(0) 0

Stars: Mzimela, Nhlapo, Sithole, Zulu, Mere, Ng'ambi, Mathe, Zongo (Gumede 85'), Mabena (Kodisang 74'), Rodgers (Msomi 55'), Ntuli

Ajax: Jaakkola, Mobara (Norodien 61'), Lartey, Coetzee, Lebusa, Graham, Langwe, Isaacs (Cale 68'), Mzwakali (Losper 78'), Nxumalo, Morris