Santos have done the double over Ajax Cape Town in the Absa Premiership this season, beating the 'Urban Warriors' 1-0 at the Athlone Stadium on Saturday night. In the corresponding first round game at Newlands, Santos won 2-0.

The only goal of the game came from Erwin Isaacs after 30 minutes.

It was the Urban Warriors who enjoyed more of the ball possession in the first half, also getting in more shots on goal and crosses in this period.

But for the most part, Ajax looked blunt in attack and it was clear to see why they have only managed 14 goals so far this season.

The Parow-based side were unlucky not to take the lead in the 10th minute when Sifiso Vilakazi’s shot on the bounce took a slight deflection of Wayne Arendse and thudded into the upright.

Overall, though, the first half was scrappy as both sides failed to settle into any sort of rhythm.

Ajax had another good opportunity in the 28th minute when Thulani Serero showed some great skill to drift past a couple of defenders, but his volley went just wide.

Two minutes later the Cape side gave their city rivals a lesson in effective finishing when Graham King got in behind Nazeer Allie, squaring the ball to Erwin Isaacs, who did well to hold off Deniss Ivanovs and stroke the ball home.

Ajax enjoyed a good spell of play towards the end of the half, but they failed to make their opportunities count, with Franklin Cale, in particular, wasteful from free kicks.

However, five minutes before the break Isaacs wasted a chance to increase 'The People's Team's lead when he shot wide after some good work from Phikolethu Spelman.

The second half again saw the Urban Warriors enjoying the better of the overall play, yet failing to show a cutting edge in attack.

In the 57th minute Lance Davids did some good work to tee up Vilakazi, but from right in front of goal, the shot was weak and Motsoeneng made a simple save.

The complexion of the match was changed 20 minutes from time when Bongi Macala was sent off after a second yellow card.

This saw Ajax dominating possession and territory for the balance of the game, but everything they threw at the Santos defence came back with interest.

Aboubacar Fofana did come close with a 78th minute snap-shot, which flew just wide.

A second goal on the counter-attack was always an option for the People’s Team and Spelman nearly provided this when he flashed a header over the bar in the 80th minute.

The pressure was relentless in the final 10 minutes of the game, plus the additional five minutes injury time, but Santos’ well-organised defence was not overly troubled.

The teams:

Santos: (4-4-2) Motsoeneng; Macala, W. Arendse, Gabonamong, Skippers; Scott (van Beulen 73), S. Arendse (Otieno 43), T. Arendse (Mofoko 66), King; Isaacs, Spelman.

Ajax Cape Town: (4-4-2) Vonk; Allie, Decamps (Ngobeni 75), Ivanovs, Daniels; Doutie (Sibisi 58), Davids, Maluleka, Cale; Serero, Vilakazi (Fofana 67).

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