Ajax Cape Town have taken charge of their MTN8 semifinal tie with Kaizer Chiefs, this after defeating the Soweto giants 1-0 in the first leg at the Newlands Stadium on Saturday evening.

Midfielder Dipsy Selolwane scored the Cape side's goal from the penalty spot just past the hour mark in a game that boiled over both on and off the pitch. Referee Peter Mabuza was the centre of attention in a game that had a stop-start nature due to the many fouls conceded by both teams.

Ajax dominated the first half, and yet it was Chiefs who should have scored as early as the second minute when Kaizer Motaung Jr missed a good volleying chance from Mandla Masango?s cross and then failed to beat Hans Vonk one-on-one mere seconds later.

On 24 minutes Diyo Sibisi missed out on a gilt-edged opportunity for the home side, blasting over an open goal from close range after Itumeleng Khune had failed to hold onto Thulani Serero?s fiercely hit shot.

The young Ajax attacker was a constant thorn in the side of Chiefs? defence, combining well with left winger Franklin Cale in particular.

Serero tested Khune again on 36 minutes with a crisply-hit half volley from the edge of the 18-yard area, but the Chiefs goalkeeper was equal to the task.

The second half was just as frustrating for the first, but just past the hour mark Thabang Rooi brought down Serero. Initially the incident seemed to have been ignored by the officials but the referee suddenly pointed to the penalty spot, and television replays suggested it was a fair call. Chiefs protested vociferously, but Selolwane coolly converted from the spot to make it 1-0 to Ajax.

The Amakhosi had a penalty shout of their own just over ten minutes later when Abia Nale was upended, but this time the referee wasn?t interested.

Substitute Knowledge Musona should have brought Chiefs level in injury time but Vonk made a terrific save in the one-on-one situation to ensure his side head into the return leg at Orlando Stadium next Sunday with an advantage.

The teams:

Ajax Cape Town: Vonk, Shabalala, Ferreira, Daniels, Evans, Doutie (Diallo 47?), Ngobeni, Selolwane, Cale, Serero (Davids 67?), Sibisi (Alexander 85?).

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Molekwane, Rooi, Sweswe, Masenamela, Masango, Nengomasha (Ntuka 49?), Mathebula (Sibeko 69?), Dladla, Nale, Motaung Jr (Musona 80?)

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