Butterfingers

Ajax Cape Town were denied all three points by a last-minute goal as they were held to a
dramatic 3-3 draw against local rivals Cape Umoya United at Cape Town Stadium on
Saturday.
The Urban Warriors looked to be on course for a crucial victory after taking a 2-0 lead inside
the opening half, but Umoya showed a never-say-die attitude to fight back twice to earn a
point after leveling matters with virtually the last move of the game.
On-form Mosiatlhanga opened the scoring in the 5th minute blasting in a cross from Thabo
Mosadi before Grant Margeman scored what should be a goal of the week. With 22 minute
gone, he received a pass from Istvan Bakx in the middle of the park, took a couple of steps
before taking a powerful shot that rifled into the back of the net before Umoya keeper,
Phomolong Motloung could react.
Just when the teams were ready to go for halftime, we launched an attack that ended with
Mosadi hitting the crossbar and from that, Umoya counterattacked and disappointedly pulled
a goal back through one of our former player Ndiviwe Mdabuka to make it 2-1 on the stroke of
half-time.
Coach Ulderink was forced to make an injury-enforced change at the break replacing
Mosiatlhanga who was struggling with a groin injury with Katlego Otladisa.
The hosts flew out of the blocks at the start of the second half and forced us into a mistake
at the back before Brandon Theron scored an equaliser inside a minute from the restart.
The boys didn’t let their heads drop though and restored the lead two minutes later from a
penalty won by substitute Otladisa after he was fouled by Umoya keeper. Eleazar Rodgers
calmly converted the penalty to make it 3-2.
Urban Warriors had numerous opportunities to score the 4th goal, especially on the counter
but could not find the right pass in the final third.
However, it was Umoya’s Masixole Nkewana who headed home a corner in injury time to ensure it finished 3-3.
Coach Andries Ulderink felt scoring a 4th goal in the second half could have made a difference.
“I think we missed a lot of counter opportunities to find the right ball into Thabo, into Katlego,
otherwise we could score maybe the 4th goal and take the game away from the opponents. It
stays 3-2 and they keep on hoping for a moment and it came with a set-piece.
“It feels bad (to drop 2 points) because we have a long period without any games. It would
have been nice to three points and use this period to work on things to be better. But we
were not good enough today to say we had the right to the three points, I think it was an
even game.” Ulderink said after the game.
Ajax’s fixtures for the rest of November have been postponed as four players, Darren
Johnson, Thendo Mukumela, Margeman, and Kegan Johannes have been selected for South
Africa U23 team who are traveling to Egypt to participate in an Olympic qualification tournament.
Ajax’s next fixture will only be on 6 December against JDR Stars at Athlone stadium.

Ajax Cape Town: Nick Hengelman; Kegan Johannes (Bongolwethu Siyasi 77’), Thendo
Mukumela, Isaac Nhlapo, Cohen Stander, Siphesihle Mkhize, Grant Margeman, Istvan Bakx
(Riyaaz Koopstadt 88’), Abednigo Mosiatlhanga (Katlego Otladisa 45’), Thabo Mosadi,
Eleazar Rodgers.
Subs (Not used): Darren Johnson, Asanele Velebayi, Masilake Pohlongo, Sedwyn George.