A Robert Sankara goal gave Free State Stars a crucial Absa Premiership win over Ajax Cape Town in Bethlehem on Tuesday to help their fight against relegation.
The victory takes Stars to 28 points with Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu both on 23 below them.
The match will be remembered as the first evening game played at Goble Park after the Executive Mayor handed over the municipality-sponsored flood lights during the day of the match.
Going into the game, Stars had it all to do to try and move out of the relegation zone where they are above just two teams, Moroka Swallows and AmaZulu.
Ajax Cape Town, on the other hand, had firm ambitions of securing a top eight position going into this match.
Robert Sankara put the hosts 1-0 ahead in the 18th minute with a header following an indirect free kick by Namibian Hendrick Somaeb.
Following the opener, Stars went full throttle at the Urban Warriors, not allowing them time to settle and showing no respect to Roger de Sa’s men.
Late in the first half the impressive Somaeb hit a cracker of a shot, but Ajax’s in-form goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola saved well to deny Stars what would have been a special goal.
Ajax’s exciting young winger Royaad Norodien was injured late in the opening half and did not return for the second half. He was replaced by Bantu Mzwakali.
On the hour mark, Ajax defender Mosa Lebusa got into a good position and took a shot at goal but he put his effort wide of the upright.
In the 67th minute, Ajax’s Tashreeq Morris made Stars keeper Daouda Diakite work hard to parry a dangerous shot into safety.
A few minutes later Diakite made another good save to deny Ajax from drawing level, this time stopping Nathan Paulse who almost made an immediate impact after coming onto the field.
In the final ten minutes of the encounter Ajax, having made all three substitutions, were asking questions of the Stars defence and the packed stadium was getting their money’s worth.
In the dying moments of the game Ajax’s Mzwakali saw his shot fly over the crossbar before Camadine Abraw’s acrobatic attempt for Stars also flew wide.
Free State Stars (1) 1 (Sankara 18’)
Ajax Cape Town 0
TEAMS
Stars: Diakite, Masehe, Mashego, Cardoso, Sankara, Kerspuy, Shabalala, Somaeb (Bester 53’) [Tlhone 86’], Sekola, Abraw, Thethani (Da Costa 90’)
Ajax: Jaakkola, Lolo, Allie, D. Isaacs, Lebusa, Jenniker (Mulenga 72’), Norodien (Mzwakali 46’), Davids, Nkoana (Paulse 64’), E. Isaacs, Morris
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