Share

In-form Stars add to Ajax woes

Cape Town - Free State Stars heaped further pressure on Ajax Cape Town head coach Stanley Menzo with a 2-0 victory in their Premiership clash at Goble Park on Wednesday.

Coming into the fixture in Bethlehem, Ajax were desperate for three points coming to a venue that's brought them no joy in the past.

And history has a way of repeating itself as Menzo's side struggled to adapt to the pace of the hosts' attack, while luck eluded them on their forays in the opposition half.

Ea Lla Koto had more possession in the opening 20 minutes and showed real intent playing the ball in Ajax's half, but Thabo Mosadi, Tashreeq Morris and teenage midfielder Grant Margerman all had half-chances to break the deadlock.

On the half-hour mark, captain Mosa Lebusa found himself in acres of space as Mosadi picked him out with another delightful delivery, but the left-back failed to find the target with a poor header.

Goalkeeper Bandre Sangare was kept on his toes by Nigerian winger Ejike Uzoenyi with a few snapshots before the hosts took the lead against the run of play just before the break as Edward Manqele scored his first league goal in over two years with a composed finish beyond Brandon Petersen.

And five minutes into the second half, Mohamed Anas doubled their lead to hand Luc Eymael's side some breathing space.

The Belgian's influence over the erratic Stars was evident within the rest of the encounter as they remained defensively resilient under the pressure of the Urban Warriors' willingness to play direct football in a bid to find a way back into the encounter.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
25% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1472 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2250 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE