Ajax Cape Town(0) 1
Sibisi 85
Kaizer Chiefs(1) 2
Masango 20, Musona 46
Another trophy for South Africa's Cup kings Kaizer Chiefs, another heartbreak for Ajax Cape Town.
The Urban Warriors' bid to retain the Telkom Knockout, as well as wipe away the sour taste still left from the 6-0 thrashing by Golden Arrows in the MTN8 final earlier this season, was killed in a 2-1 loss to Amakhosi at a packed Absa Stadium last night.
Chiefs have been poor scorers in this edition of the Telkom Knockout, netting just one goal in regulation time during the three previous rounds of the competition, but yesterday they did well to capitalise on errors in the Ajax backline as their hordes of noisy and colourful fans rooted for them despite the inclement weather.
A goal by attacking midfielder Mandla Masango midway through the first half set Chiefs on the path to victory and striker Knowledge Musona virtually sealed the game immediately after the break.
Ajax substitute Diyo Sibisi's late strike proved a consolation effort. For their efforts, the Soweto giants picked up a not-too-shabby cheque for R4,25 million, more than double the R1,75 million given to their youthful opponents from Cape Town.
Both coaches, Serbian Vladimir Vermezovic of Chiefs and Dutchman Foppe de Haan of Ajax, were looking for their first Cup success on South African soil after joining their respective sides this season.
Ajax came out firing from the first whistle blown by referee Robert Sithole and had three attempts at goal in the opening 15 minutes.
The match began with Chiefs goalkeeper Arthur Bartman tipping over a shot from Ajax midfielder Dipsy Selolwane and shortly after that the Chiefs defence had to scramble to deny another midfielder, George Maluleka, a shot at goal following a cornerkick.
Bartman denied Selolwane again in the 11th minute, this time rushing out to make a block on the ground. But it was Chiefs who took the lead in the 21st minute, when Ajax's veteran goalkeeper Hans Vonk could only parry a cross from overlapping leftback Punch Masenamela and Masango stabbed the ball home from close range. Vonk will feel he should have done better to grab the ball.
Ajax tried to claw their way back into the game but Chiefs were also intent on grabbing a second goal, although there was nothing clear-cut from either side before the halftime whistle was blown.
Zimbabwean Musona put Chiefs 2-0 up in the 46th minute when he took advantage of a failed clearance by Ajax defender Clayton Daniels to put the ball past a helpless goalkeeper Vonk. Musona could have easily grabbed a brace in the 69th minute but shot over the bar from just in front of the line when connecting with a cross from overlapping defender Jimmy Tau.
Ajax proceeded to make the full quota of changes in the hope of getting back into the match, and they got a goal in the 85th minute from Sibisi. Bartman, the Chiefs goalkeeper, parried a shot from tall striker Nathan Paulse and Sibisi sent the rebound back in.
But there was not enough time left for the defending champions to grab an equaliser, leaving Chiefs to celebrate with the trophy in front of their passionate supporters.
TEAMS
AJAX: Vonk; Allie, Ivanovs (Jenniker 70th), Daniels, Shabalala; Ngobeni, Maluleka, Selolwane, Scott (Dialo 78th); Lewis (Sibisi 70th), Paulse.
CHIEFS: Bartman; Tau, Nahayo, Isaacs, Masenamela; Nengomasha, Yende (Mathebula 83rd), Nale (Matle 90), Dladla, Masango (Torrealba 80th); Musona
Referee: Sithole
Attendance: 45 000