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Ajax end SuperSport's unbeaten run

SY LERMAN | JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - Nov 02 2008 08:34

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Sleepwalking SuperSport United woke up too late to salvage their unbeaten Absa Premiership record -- but they certainly provided Ajax Cape Town with a torrid final 10 minutes before going down 1-0 at a noisy, but largely deserted Athlone Stadium on Saturday night.

It was the first time in four seasons and seven league games that the youthful Cape Town combination had beaten the current champions and log leaders, but in spite of choking under the pressure in the final stages, they deserved their victory after looking the livelier and more inventive combination for much of the proceedings.

Paradoxically, however, SuperSport had five viable scoring opportunities in a helter-skelter closing onslaught, with Fikru Tefera forcing Ajax goalkeeper Sean Roberts to bring off a glorious, instinctive save from a pin-point header in the 88th minute. The Ethiopian international striker squandered a point-blank opportunity of equalising two minutes later.

The all-important solitary goal, which ends SuperSport's clear-cut domination in the championship race and eases Ajax back into a challenging position, was scored by Mabhudi Kenyeze, with the former Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs striker giving goalkeeper Andre Arendse no chance when heading a corner into the roof of the net.

Coming off a 5-0 mid-week victory over Maritzburg United, SuperSport looked lethargic and seemingly complacent in the early stages, and were upstaged by the nippy, hard-working Ajax youth brigade.

And SuperSport coach Gavin Hunt might have had a point afterwards when he proclaimed: "It was just one of those games. If we played until next week we still would not have scored."

But, for all this, SuperSport appeared unfortunate not to be awarded a first-half penalty, which could have turned the game on its head.

As it was, a spate of substitutions and tactical changes failed to produce the desired effect on a team who demonstrated none of the killer instinct that had blighted Maritzburg United.

In another match played on Saturday, Kaizer Chiefs beat AmaZulu 3-0. -- Sapa

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Ajax end SuperSport's unbeaten run

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