28.02.2018 22:20 h

SuperSport United rejects haunt them by scoring

Fagrie Lakay and Mario Booysen scored against former club SuperSport United on Wednesday to give Ajax Cape Town a 2-0 South African Premiership win and lift them from the relegation zone.

A counterattack on 50 minutes ended with Lakay firing a low shot from just outside the box wide of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams and into the corner of the net.

Booysen doubled the lead after 77 minutes through a goal gifted by Williams, who failed to grasp a cross and the Ajax centre-back stabbed the loose ball over the line.

Both scorers were deemed surplus to requirements by SuperSport and moved to less successful Ajax.

"I had something to prove," stressed man-of-the-match award winner Lakay. "This victory means a lot to us given the situation we find ourselves in."

Turkey-born Ajax coach Muhsin Ertugral believes his team will avoid a bottom-two finish. The last Premiership club automatically go down while the second-last side face play-offs.

"My belief is that two more victories from our remaining seven matches will ensure survival," he told reporters at windy Athlone Stadium in the southwestern city.

SuperSport, one of the pre-season title favourites, have flopped, winning just six of 23 games, scoring only 20 goals, and lying five points above the danger zone.

"This was a six-pointer," admitted United coach and former South Africa midfielder Eric Tinkler. "Losing has put myself and everyone else at the club under even more pressure."

With seven rounds remaining, bottom club Platinum Stars have 17 points, Polokwane City 23, Ajax 24 and Bloemfontein Celtic, SuperSport and Lamontville Golden Arrows 26.

SuperSport, runners-up in the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup, launch a fresh campaign in the secondary African club competition next Tuesday away to Petro Atletico of Angola in Luanda.