Sensational Ajax whip Pirates
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 (21:41)

Ajax Cape Town put in a sensational 90 minutes to secure a 3-0 win over Orlando Pirates at the Newlands Stadium on Wednesday night.

The result sends the Cape side top of the log, while Pirates drop behind Sundowns into third. It was a barn-storming display by the home side who left Pirates bewildered at times with their superior pace and skill in attack.

It was Ajax who made the better start, using their pace and tenacity to close down Bucs in midfield.

With two minutes gone Thulani Serero showed some lovely skill to juggle the ball in to the box before thumping a left-footed volley over the bar.

Ajax keeper Hans Vonk hardly had a save to make early on, though he did well to clear a couple of tricky corners from Isaac Chansa.

At the either end, Senzo Meyiwa had his first bit of work to do in the 24th minute when he came out to block Brent Carelse’s close range effort after a great ball by George Maluleka.

Just a minute later and Ajax took the lead when Khama Billiat slammed home a low drive, doing well to find the corner of the net after some clever passing in the Pirates box.

Billiat could have added a second goal in the 38th minute after Serero put him through on goal, but from an angle he shot across the face of goal and just missed getting the ball in at the far post.

Bucs began the second half with several promising moves down the left with Thulasizwe Mbuyane, but on each occasion there was no end product.

But Ajax showed the way as far as finishing prowess was concerned when in the 54th minute Serero raced clear, before picking out Billiat, who slotted into the top corner from just inside the box. And just a minute later Foppe de Haan’s side added a third when Maluleka showed great skill to create space for a shot before hammering a 20-yard scorcher past Meyiwa.

The visiting team tried in vein to come back into the game, but time and time again their final passes into the box lacked precision and creativity.

There was finally a decent chance in the 80th minute for Mark Mayambela, but he shot into the side-netting from 12-yards out.

Mayambela had another chance with a minute left, but Vonk did well to tip his shot over the bar. Ajax Cape Town (1) 3 (Billiat 25’, 55‘, Maluleka 56‘) Orlando Pirates (0) 0 TEAMS Ajax (4-4-2): Vonk; Allie, Decamps, Daniels, Mjempu; Carelse (Manyama 78‘), Scott, Maluleka (Katsande 90‘), Billiat; Serero, Fanteni Pirates (4-4-2): Meyiwa; Manyisa, Mahamutsa, Lekgwathi, Cloete; Mbuyane (Ndlula 83‘), Jali, Ngobeni (Mayambela 64‘), Segolela; Chansa, Mashego (Mabena 72’)

Ajax CT (2nd) played against Orlando Pirates (1st, coached by good old Ruud Krol) and outplayed them in a nice fashion.