The match was delayed by about 15 minutes to allow the East London crowd to settle inside the stadium and take their seats for the kick-off. And the fans certainly got good value for their money, especially in the second half when the home side turned it on in style.
After Ajax took the lead in the second minute of the match through Prince Nxumalo, Chippa blitzed the visitors with some irresistible play after the break.
Bafana Bafana striker David Zulu equalised for Chippa six minutes after the break, while the diminutive Joseph Molangoane scored their second goal in the 57th minute to send the boisterous crowd into ecstasy.
Chippa substitute Xola Mlambo then sealed the three match points, deep into added time.
The Cape Town visitors made the perfect start to the match when Nxumalo took advantage of some flimsy defending to head home a pin-point corner from Riyaad Norodien.
Ajax actually dominated the opening quarter for the match. They pressed Chippa hard in midfield and played off the Chilli Boys’ mistakes.
Nxumalo had another great chance in the ninth minute after some great interplay by Franklin Cale and Norodien. However, the Ajax striker made a meal of his header after the Chippa defenders were caught ball-watching.
Norodien was in fantastic form, and he almost scored a spectacular goal in the 21st minute when he saw the Chippa goalkeeper off his line, and tried to chip him from about 38 metres out.
Chippa’s first shot at goal came in the 22nd minute after Molangoane won a free-kick on the edge of the Ajax penalty area. Erick Chipeta’s free- kick was punched away by Ajax goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola.
The second stanza, though, belonged almost entirely to the home side. They increased the pace of their play and ran Ajax ragged with their skill and pace.
Zulu came up with a wonderful finish in the 51st minute after he had hit the crossbar a few minutes prior to his equalising goal.
Malongoane then put Chippa ahead after a wonderful piece of skill before steering the ball through the legs of the Jaakkola.
Ajax tried to fight back, with Nxumalo hitting the post with a lovely turn-and-shoot in the 66th minute, while Norodien also squandered a great chance after some great play by substitute Bantu Mzwakali.
However, the Chilli Boys wouldn’t be denied, and Mlambo put the icing on the cake with a lovely finish in the final minute of the six minutes that were added on by the referee.
Source: African News Agency (ANA)
