Sun sets on Downs

Mamelodi  Sundowns failed to commit to the full 90 minutes yet again yesterday and came crashing down to Ajax Cape Town in front of a good home crowd.

Sundowns (1) 2 -  Ajax (0) 3

Downs also botched the chance to go top of the Absa Premiership table - a win would have taken them a point clear of leaders Kaizer Chiefs, who have 12 points after their Soweto Derby win against rivals Orlando Pirates at Soccer City on Saturday.

Sundowns and Ajax are third and fourth respectively.

Second-half strikes from Terror Fanteni, Nhlanhla Vilakazi and an injury-time winner from Khama Billiat sunk the Brazilians after Lebohang Mokoena put his side ahead in the 30th minute.

A Punch Masenamela cracker from just outside the box got Sundowns back in the game until holes opened up in their defence, allowing Ajax to seal victory in referee's optional time.

Games between the two sides always live up to the hype as far as goals are concerned. The same league fixture last season produced an eight-goal thriller - Sundowns coming from 4-1 down to salvage a crucial point.

Questions are now being asked about the fitness of a Sundowns team that always fails to maintain its work rate for 90 minutes.

Sundowns coach Johan Neeskens made a number of changes following the team's 3-2 win against Wits last week. Innocent Mdledle, Siyanda Xulu, Hlompho Kekana and Mabhuti Khenyeza were left out of the starting line-up, with Kekana serving a one-match suspension.

Musa Nyatama returned to start and was a livewire early on, with striker Katlego Mphela. But the latter's efforts on goal were poor - much like his team's display throughout the match.

Apart from Mokoena's goal the first half lacked the firepower expected, with Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane one of the 5000 spectators looking on.

Sean Roberts was in good form for Ajax and made a number of breathtaking saves to deny Sundowns more goals as his Bafana counterpart Wayne Sandilands desperately tried to keep Ajax from scoring at the other end.

Ajax coach Maarten Stekelenburg's move to bring on Paul Rusike for Fanteni with just 10 minutes left turned out to be a stroke of genius.

Rusike put loads of pressure on Sundowns leftback Ramahlwe Mphahlele with his attacking runs and he and Manyama were then instrumental in setting up Billiat's injury-time winner.

In the other games yesterday, Maritzburg United beat Golden Arrows 2-0 and Free State Stars drew 0-0 with Wits.

• Amazulu have sacked coach Manqoba Mngithi after a poor run of results. The team is second-from-bottom on the standings after five games.