Ajax Cape Town set up a playoff showdown with Black Leopards on Friday with a 5-1 win over Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila on Tuesday 15 September.
The result puts Ajax on top of the mini-table on goal difference, but Black Leopards have a game in hand, meaning that even if the Urban Warriors beat the PSL side, they may miss out on promotion if Lidoda Duvha beat their Limpopo rival in the final match on Monday 21 September.
TTM 1-5 Ajax Cape Town: PSL playoff match report
Ajaz Cape Town’s free-scoring second half was made more impressive by the absence of GladAfrica Championship top goalscorer Abednego Mosiatlhaga from their ranks.
Mosiatlhaga was replaced by Chumani Butsaka in the starting line-up.
Thembisani Nevhulamba opened the scoring for TTM in the 11th minute with a straightforward volley from point-blank range after following a flick-on from Junior Sibande.
After that early goal Ajax piled forward while TTM looked to hit them on the break and the match may have turned out differently had Molibedi Mokoena not rattled the post with a strike inside the box.
Ajax goalkeeper Nick Hengelman did his part to keep the Cape Town side in the contest denying Naeem Amoojee from close range just before the break.
In the second half, Ajax resumed the siege on TTM’s goal and just two minutes after the break the dam broke when Siphesihle Mkhize tapped home to equalise following a bunfight in the box.
Eleazar Rodgers has been in fine form in the playoffs and it was he who put the Urban Warriors in front with tap-in at the near post after getting to Stander’s cross from the left flank quickest. TTM struggled to break the pattern of the game and found themselves on the back foot throughout the second half.
Rodgers was the fox in the box again moments later to stretch Ajax’s lead and eat into what had been Black Leopards’ goal difference advantage.
Butsaka was on-target with a thumping shot to make it 4-1 before Rodgers turned up once more to seal the victory and send Ajax top with a fifth goal.
Ajax Cape Town scored five goals in 18 minutes against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila to keep their hopes of a return to the PSL alive.
Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila squad
TTM: Ramaele, Mashele, Mabotja, Nyadombo, Thangwane, Amoojee, Mandlazi, Masegela, Khumalo, Mokoena, Nevhulamba.
Subs: Mamudzidi, Nhlapo, Makgoga, Moremedi, Dzaga, Hlongo, Mbandlwa, Ndebele, Makhubu.
Ajax Cape Town squad
Ajax: Hengelman, Johannes, Stander, Mukumela, Sibande, Mkhize, Kabwe, Margeman, S.Mfecane, Butsaka, Rodgers.
Subs: Leaner, Mahamutsa, Mokate, Velebayi, Wakefield, Siyasi, K.Mfecane, Koopstadt, Bakx.
