GOLDEN ARROWS VS AJAX CAPE TOWN | MTN8

Competition: MTN
Date: Sunday, 24 October 2009
Venue: Orlando Stadium
Kick-off: 20h15

Golden Arrows won their first major trophy and a record R8 million winner takes all prize when they routed Ajax Cape Town 6-0 in one-sided MTN8 final played at Orlando Stadium on Saturday night.

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It was all over bar the shouting after 20 minutes when the Kwa-Zulu Natal outfit took an unbeatable 2-0 lead thanks to some positive attacking soccer and some bad defending from a shaky and nervous Urban Warriors who were run ragged for 90 minutes and given a soccer lesson – and an embarrassing six of the best caning.

The second half was held up for almost an hour when the floodlights went out before the start of the second half.

A red card to the stadium management or whoever was responsible for the blackout. It was an embarrassing situation for the sponsors, the PSL and television networks who were broadcasting the game live.

A total of R280 million was spent on refurbishing this stadium which will be used a training ground for the 2010 World Cup finals. And with 2010 showpiece just around the corner, South African soccer does not need this type of howler.

It was a poor show giving our enemies in Europe more ammunition to fire at us. The match which kicked off at 8.15pm ended after 11pm meaning that the 18 000 or so fans were badly inconvenienced. But at the end of a long, long night it was a brilliant triumph for Arrows’ young coach Manqoba Mngqithi who showed that local is indeed lekker.

Mngqithi is one of a band of promising young coaches in the PSL and he deserves praise for his positive tactics of attacking and taking the game to Ajax. It was a refreshing to watch and it will not be too long before this 38-year-old coach earns more silverware.

But Ajax started with the handicap of not having their captain and left back Brett Evans fit. He was replaced by winger Franklyn Cale who was given a roasting by the pacey Arrows attack. Cale was later moved back to his usual position on the left wign after the long halftime.

The loss of coach and chief motivator Muhsin Ertugral to Turkey recently did not help Ajax who never got out of first gear.

Arrows capitalised on Ajax’s defence which went walk about and they were lucky to be only 2-0 down at halftime.

Apart from Cale struggling, Ajax former Latvian Under-21 international centre back Deniss Ivanovs had a night he will want to forget.

He was at fault for the first goal scored by Joseph Henyekane and then scored a spectacular own goal when trying to clear Mzuvukile Tom’s cross.

Arrows showed their intent form the start and Ajax veteran, 39-year-old former Bafana Bafana keeper Hans Vonk, did brilliantly to stop Joseph Henyekane scoring in the sixth minute.

But then Vonk and Ivanovs went to sleep and failed to deal with a clever ball over the defence from Tom that Joseph Henyekane latched onto, rounded Vonk and slammed to ball into the net in the ninth minute.

Ajax tried to level the final with two good attempts within the 12th minute.

Cale had a free kick defelcted and from the corner Arrows keeper Helton da Rocha did well to fist away Nhlanhla Shabalala goal bound shot.

But Ajax had a lucky escape a minute later when Richard Henyekane, big brother of Joseph, found himself in front of goal but slipped while taking aim and his shot skidded past the woodwork.

But Arrows went 2-0 ahead in the 20th minute when Ivanovs slammed Tom’s cross past the stranded Vonk and it was already game set and match.

Ajax players complained to the referee Buyile Gqubule that the linesman on the far side had his flag raised for an infringement. However, the referee had waved play on and professional players should know the golden rule of playing to the whistle.

Richard Henyekane forced Vonk to make another good save in the 39th minute while two minutes later Ajax Derek Decamps headed over the Arrows crossbar.

Arrows continued where they left off in the first half when Richard Henyekane slotted into an empty net in the 48th minute when Vonk managed to parry Njabulo Manqana’s shot and Arrows’ leading goal scorer made no mistake with a tap in from close range.

Arrows substitute Thokozani Mshengu rubbed salt into Ajax’s and Ivanovs wounds when he rounded the Latvian defender and slotted home goal number four in the 66th minute.

Nhlanhla Zothwane added the fifth goal in the 73rd minute. But another goal in the final minute by Manqana made it six of the best and set a new South Africa record score in a final.

© Sapa