Ajax Cape Town are already benefiting from new coach Muhsin Ertugral's experience. The Turkish-born coach plotted the downfall of Orlando Pirates as the Urban Warriors edged out Bucs 2-1 in a hard-fought MTN8 quarterfinal clash at Ellis Park last night.
A goal by Dipsy Selolwane in the 77th minute earned the underdogs their hard fought passage in to the semifinals of the competition as Ajax again proved to be a hoodoo side for Bucs.
Ajax defeated Pirates 2-1 in the Telkom Knockout Cup final last season and once again got the better of the more fancied Buccaneers in the opening cup competition of the new season. Bucs also failed to beat Ajax in the league last season, losing at home and drawing their return match in Cape Town.
Despite the poor condition of the pitch both sides produced a fast flowing opening 45 minutes.
Ajax held the upper hand in the opening stages of the game, but it was Bucs midfielder Teko Modise who had the first real shot in anger when he hit the side netting in the 17th minute.
The Urban Warriors, however, took the lead a minute later when debutant striker Diyo Sibisi flicked the ball on to Thulani Sereno whose close range header gave goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs no chance, putting the Cape outfit 1-0 ahead. Ajax looked like they could score a second goal as they had Bucs under pressure during the next 10 minutes.But to their credit the Buccaneers fought their way back into the game and ended stronger.
Pirates came out fighting after the break. Dikgang Mabalane's half volley from a Modise free kick went wide in the 50th minute, but referee Buyile Gqubule awarded the home side a disputed free kick on the edge of the penalty area three minutes later for the equaliser.
Bucs striker Katlego Mashego did brilliantly to beat Ajax veteran goalkeeper Hans Vonk with a perfectly placed set piece to level the score and the tie.
The same referee awarded Pirates a penalty in the Telkom Charity Cup final against Platinum Stars last weekend in Rustenburg which was never a penalty. But Bucs took the gift and went on to retain the Charity Cup.
The miss of the match came when Mashego rounded Vonk and, with an empty net staring at him, managed to hit the woodwork and let Ajax off the hook. It proved a costly mistake for Pirates as Ajax produced the winner.
Selolwane beat Josephs with a thunderous drive from the edge of the penalty area after a superb cross from Sameehg Doutie in the 77th minute.
In last night's other quaterfinal game, Golden Arrows beat Free State Stars 1-0.
source: http://www.iol.co.za/
+ comments + 3 comments
Too much herbs burned in the change room. Sangoma got late and could not prep the field per contract stipulation. It is said the Sangoma came on a bus that had a flat tire along the way. When the Sangoma got to the stadium he realised his inventory bag was left in the bus. Thus sangoma resorted to bird droppings found on the stadium rafters. It became too smooky and players were happy when the refree came to get them out only to be told "ten more seconds". We hope the bag will be returned to Parktown offices ASAP. The bag has all Pirates phone numbers and address. Mbele and Modisane have their name tags attached to the bag.
If you wish you could drp the bag at naturena and Chiefs will drop it to OPFC on their way to Orlando Stadium.
Boyzi
Ag sis man, what a shame! this boys are too lazy they are getting too much pay. Those in the national team are a disgrace, they cannot score goals at national levele and fail at PSL level. I am going to request that they be sold quickly and will get used not having them. The coach too may start parking his garbage and head out. His becoming too big headed, this is Pirates no room for silly people. We was all happy untill this nonsense. Bucs will be bucs after he he is gone. His been here long enough to know we need victory and nothing else. Mbele may too get out he is a disgrace too. All this keeping him has brought nothing but public shame. Modise must ketch the next thing smoking ang go back to the mountains and eat horses. His childish diplomacy has been exposed. He keeps saying same thing :it will get better bucaneer" No it gets no better from here. Get the hell out. We got many out and you are no exception. Ngubani is at second division and many kids are scattered in the league, we just don't give a dam. We want no substandard people at Pirates. Please get the hell out yoy are a public disgrace. We have been here before and will take non of of your crab anymore. This ship is old enough to on and will be much better when you are gone. The stage is too much demanding to loose against some crab teams. This is not holland either this is Orlando and it shall be. We have had too much crab to deal with and the buck stops right here. Go please go before we loose even more!
vinchenzo
Again and Again pirates is not living up to their name. A one goal win over Ajax is not convincing, it simply sends a message that Ajax will get them later. Ajax did not go full force as the too are eying MTN. Pirates should have scored a number of goals for so many reasons. One they had scoring problems last year. Two when they win it is no always by big margins and Three they have new blood what is the hold up. Anyway, I smell a dead rat. Shaka is not really doing as expected or his style of play does not match the coach. We cannot keep getting reed of players and the coach not delivering. Granted the coach plays competative soccer But Pirates is old enough of that we need to win trophies and nothing less. This drought must end and that is why we got the new coach and he needs to be reminded by myself that he must honor his contract. If we are going to continue to do what we have always done then we can smoke our xhosa pipe with Gordon Ingesund. Sundowns have done very well considering they been hammered very hard recently but are on top of the table. We have had very strong preasons game to come and sit second. We beat a strong English team and nailed our own son. Shakes and Palacoius need to take a brake with Krol just good two days in Polokwani resort. We are looking to the coming SAFA elections and we should lead the league by example. We have the world cup coming and thus more eyes on Pirates as oldest team in the country.
Thus I grade Krol -C at the moment and that is a shame for a team of this calibre. Too much is given to Krol look at all the players we are bringing. Too much is required too, this is the Ghoast and it shall remain so untill no further notice. Hence it will behoove somebody to shape up or ship out, just like that. This is warning number one.
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