Former Nigeria U20 captain Abduljeleel Ajagun helped Cape Town City return to winning ways in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), scoring the only goal in the win over strugglers Chippa United on Wednesday evening.
Coach Eric Tinkler decided to start the 28-year-old Ajagun in attacking midfield alongside Thabo Nodada as the Citizens hoped for a positive outing after the MTN 8 final heartbreak.
With just seven minutes into the game, Ajagun was presented with an opportunity to open the scoring but his shot off a cross from Khanyisa Mayo stung the palms of Chippa goalkeeper Ayanda Mtshali as the home side started brightly.
Striker Tashreeq Morris and the lively Ajagun combined in yet another brilliant move in search of the opener, but the visitors did enough to thwart the duo’s effort. Momentum remained with Tinkler’s men but they could not find a breakthrough, as the Chilli Boys stood their ground and made things difficult for the home side.
After the break, the visitors were in the ascendancy and had their moment in the 65th minute when Siphesihle Mkhize got on the end of a corner kick and headed wide of the target.
Meanwhile, the Citizens felt they should have had a penalty in the 70th minute when Ajagun went down under a challenge in the box, but their calls were turned down by referee Philangenkosi Khumalo, who decided to wave play on as the game began to open up. Moments later, a half-volley from Ajagun went wide before Craig Martin also went close with an attempt of his own.
However, it was Ajagun, the former Dolphins midfielder, who had the final say with a fine finish from inside the box to beat Mtshali in the 89th minute and secure all three points for the Cape Town club.
The win sends Cape Town City into the top eight on the PSL log with 12points from eight games and they will travel to the KwaZulu Natal province to face AmaZulu in their next league outing on Saturday.
