Ajax Cape Town

Ajax Cape Town and Arrows draw

Ajax Cape Town and Golden Arrows played to a goalless draw at the Newlands Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The Urban Warriors where determined to shrug off their MTN8 defeat at the hands of todays opponents with a work-man like display and they did.

Ajax controlled the game from the start, their players tackled and fought for every lose ball. Their efforts nearly paid off in the opening 20 minutes when Diyo Sibisi had two shots at the goal, one flew just wide the other was saved by Da Rocha in goal for Arrows.

Arrows aware that this opening salvo was just the start was defensive in their approach to the game wary of the offensive game plan of Ajax.

The home team started with a different formation than expected and looked solid from the start. Lance Davids at right back, Nhlanhla Shabalala at left back, George Maluleka started upfront next to Diyo Sibisi and Clifford Ngobeni was back at his best in the midfield.
Ajax promised a more offensive approach without sacrificing their defensive responsibilities.

Sameehg Doutie and Franklin Cale enjoyed the space afforded them on the wings and they linked up well with Dipsy and Clifford to launch the Ajax attack with George and Diyo at the end of the final passes.

In the 20th minute Ngobeni fed Doutie whose cross to the far post found Diyo and the resultant header flew just over the bar. Minutes later Doutie floated in a free-kick and Da Rocha punched the ball clear and Arrows concedes a corner. The Arrows defence cleared the corner to Maluleka who fired in a shot and Da Rocha saves. 

Ajax almost conceded when Ngobeni lost the ball to Musa Bilankulu inside his own half, Musa fed Richard Henyekani who was clear on route to score but the Arrows striker shot feebly and Vonk saved comfortably.

Ajax broke through the Arrows backline often but the strikers could not take advantage. Maluleka had the ball plucked off his feet, then he turned his marker and passed to Sibisi only for an Arrows defender to block the shot then Cale fed Diyo whose shot hit the side-netting.

Ajax continued to probe for an opening and the pressure almost paid-off when Serero was brought down in the penalty area but the match official waved play-on to the dismay of the home fans and they made their displeasure known vociferously.

Jan Pruijn said in his pre-match message Our performances must reflect a certain work attitude that this is to be the base for getting results in the future and then no one can say that we did not get the desired result its because the work ethic was bad. 

Ajax did not disappoint with this new approach.

It was not only the new look of the Ajax team that had their supporters cheering every good tackle, pass and shot at goal what was evident over the last two games is that this Ajax Cape Town team worked for each other in defence and attack.

This week holds new challenges for Ajax with their new coach Foppe de Haan taking up the reigns with games against Cosmos on Wednesday and Black Aces on Sunday. The Urban Warriors plans to take their new approach to these games looking to cement their place amongst the leaders on the PSL standings.