Goals on the menu in Telkom Knockout final

Another sell-out crowd can expect yet another cracker Telkom Knockout game when defending champions Ajax Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs meet in the final at Absa Stadium tonight (8.15pm).

All 37 000 stand tickets were snapped up mid-week and any remaining suite tickets were expected to be sold yesterday to make for a full house of 50 000. A similar full-house crowd was treated to a thriller semi-final affair on Easter Monday when Chiefs knocked arch rivals Orlando Pirates out of the tournament 3-0 on penalties at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

The Soweto giants registered their third goalless affair of the season, and the game marked Chiefs' second scoreless outing in the cup after earlier also requiring a shoot-out to get past Santos. If the statistics are anything to go by, then tonight should see a few goals during regulation time. Chiefs are the best team in terms of getting their shots on target, and Ajax's ranking as the side with the most number of off-sides indicates over-eagerness to break away and score.

Unlike the Soweto derbies, these teams delivered six goals in their two league meetings this season, with the Amakhosi coming out 2-1 and 3-0 victors.

More goals should be on the menu tonight, as the sides chase the R4.25 million winner's prize.

While Chiefs have scored only one goal from open play - Mandla Masango got the winner against Mamelodi Sundowns in the quarter-final - they top the charts with 14 strikes on target.

Zimbabwe international striker Knowledge Musona found his range with six of those attempts. Throw in the other five that were off target and Musona is the player with the most shots. It could be a busy night for the goalkeepers, former international Hans Vonk of Ajax and his opposite number Arthur Bartman. The latter has so far kept a clean sheet in the Knockout, and stood up to the challenge of spot-kicks when he kept Pirates out with an ice cool display.

A cup victory will be just reward for Bartman, who joined Chiefs as emergency cover for injured Itumeleng Khune, following the disappointment of relegation with Bay United. Strangely for the 38-year-old Bartman this is his finest spell with the club, for in his first stint with them he never made it off the bench.

He'll need to be on his toes whenever Nathan Paulse and Stanton Lewis are on the ball. The strike duo have among the best shots to goals ratio, with Lewis on two goals and Paulse with one.

On the other hand, their supply could be somewhat limited because the player with the most assists in the Knockout, Sameehg Doutie, is suspended. That's where Ajax's all round team-work should come to the fore, as they feature in their third final in two years.

Having been outsmarted by Chiefs in the league, and getting walloped 6-0 in the MTN8 final by Lamontville Golden Arrows, the "Urban Warriors" will be desperate not to let this opportunity slip past.