Barker makes things difficult for Ajax

AJAX CAPE TOWN (0) 1

Makhubela 63rd min

MANNING RANGERS (0) 1

Stuart 56th

By Rodney Reiners

Manning Rangers' Clive Barker remains one of the shrewdest soccer tacticians in the Premier League and on Tuesday night at Newlands the former Bafana coach made Ajax Cape Town sweat blood for a point.

It was clear from the outset that Barker had come with a game plan of stifling and frustrating Ajax's style and rhythm. Rangers played with only leading scorer Ishmael Maluleke up front and even used Zimbabwean marksman Gilbert Mushangazhike in a wide midfield role.

Barker's objective was to get men behind the ball and not allow the skilled Ajax footballers any room. And it worked like a charm.

The Durban side were organised and tight in defence. They tackled and battled away and were never easy to break down. And when in possession they broke out swiftly on the counter. It was on one these breaks that Mozambican midfielder Antonio Trigo set up Reagan Stuart who nipped the ball into the net after a fantastic individual effort. Watch this young man Stuart, he's a frail, spindly-legged leftfooter, but a really crafty player.

Ajax tried in vain to overcome the many obstacles Barker and his men had strewn in their path, and it needed Stuart's goal to inject a sense of urgency into the Cape team.

It was left to man-of-the-match Ajax midfielder Subisiso Mzizi, just 18, to inspire his teammates. Mzizi turned and swerved with verve in the penalty area to leave a few Rangers defenders for dead.

Mzizi's shot appeared to be heading goalwards, but Simon Makhubela got the final touch and will be credited with the goal.

That set the platform for a late Ajax onslaught. Makhubela missed a chance, Brent Carelse squandered two of the easiest opportunities imaginable, and the impressive Orlin Powell had a vicious drive brilliantly saved by Rangers goalkeeper Ryan Wuest.

But Barker will be happy. He came here for a point - and that's what he got.

Teams:

Ajax: Moeneeb Josephs, Dominic Isaacs, Andile Sixaba, Jeremy Jansen, Yanga Gcileshe, Marciano Vink, Dillon Sheppard (Brent Carelse 58th), Sibusiso Mzizi, Orlin Powell, Geert Brusselers (Simon Makhubela 58th), Nqobezitha Ncube

Rangers: Ryan Wuest, Robbie Milne, Bradley Muir (Helder Muianga 71st), Nkhiphitheni Matombo, Liswa Nduti, Reagan Stuart, Antonio Trigo, Michael Shata (Clinton Larsen 83rd), Gideon Noge (Pogisho Mokotjo 71st), Gilbert Mushangazhike, Ishmael Maluleke

- Santos are in action at Green Point stadium on Wednesday evening when they host Golden Arrows.

It's a must-win match for log leaders Santos. There are a number of teams breathing down their necks and Gordon Igesund and his men can ill-afford to slip up.

Igesund is mainly concerned by the unpredictable nature of Arrows. This is a club that has beaten Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns in successive weeks, but were then hammered at home by struggling Hellenic.

It's never certain which Arrows team will turn up: the mediocre or the magnificent.

Igesund is hoping fervently it's the former.

PSL Fixtures:

Wednesday: Classic v Sundowns; Swallows v Free State Stars; Santos v Golden Arrows (Green Point, 8pm)

Saturday: FS Stars v Classic; Hellenic v Moroka Swallows (Green Point, 8pm); Wits v AmaZulu

Sunday: Ajax v Black Leopards; Bush Bucks v Jomo Cosmos; Golden Arrows v Supersport United; Ria Stars v Santos; Sundowns v Manning Rangers