City, Ajax set for Cape Town derby showdown

by Graeme Jackson

Friday Jan 19, 2018. 06:12

Cape Town City and Ajax Cape Town will renew hostilities in an Absa Premiership derby at Cape Town Stadium on 20 January 2018, kick-off at 15h30.

City saw a three-game winning streak cut short when they suffered a 1-0 loss away to Free State Stars on January 13. It was their first loss since a 4-2 ‘home’ defeat at the hands of Maritzburg United in early December - that match was played in KwaZulu-Natal due to a lack of available venues in the Western Cape at the time.

The Citizens have claimed 13 points from eight home matches this season. Their last turn as hosts saw them claim a 1-0 win over AmaZulu on December 15 thanks to a late goal from midfielder Roland Putsche.

Ajax broke a three-game losing streak by defeating Platinum Stars 3-1 at home on January 12, with goals from Tercious Malepe, Tashreeq Morris and Tendai Ndoro. The Cape Town side has won just two of their last nine league matches and conceded 10 goals in the process.

The Urban Warriors have claimed just two points from eight away matches this season. They have yet to win a match on the road in the 2017/18 campaign, and have scored just two goals in their eight matches.

In head-to-head stats, City and Ajax have met in three league matches since the 2016/17 season. The Citizens boast a perfect record in the sequence, having claimed victory on all three occasions in which the teams have crossed swords.

Their meeting earlier this season saw City claim a 2-0 away win thanks to goals from Victor Obinna and Judas Moseamedi. The Citizens will hope they do not go on to lose their next two matches in succession, as happened following their late-September win over their derby rivals.

City’s line-up from their 1-0 loss to Free State Stars on January 13: Stephens, Kobola (Mngonyama 46’), Johannes, Fielies (Moseamedi 69’), Edmilson, Putsche, Nodada, Lakay, Martin (Ralani 46’), Masina, Obinna.

Ajax’s line-up from their 3-1 win over Platinum Stars on January 12: Petersen, Lebusa, Booysen, Nhlapo, Kammies, Takwara, Malepe, Julies, Lakay (Mdabuka 46'), Morris (Phohlongo 88'), Ndoro (Thabotha 90+2').