Cape derby restarts Absa premiership second leg
The 2008/09 Absa Premiership season second round will start this Wednesday evening when Ajax Cape Town and Santos meet in the Cape derby at the Athlone Stadium, kick-off 19h30.
The Urban Warriors topped the log over the festive season break, and they will be looking to extend their lead over title contenders SuperSport United, BidVest Wits and Golden Arrows by winning this game in hand.
However, the Peoples' Team are just five points adrift of their cross-town rivals and a victory would bring them right into contention for league honours at the start of the New Year.
Both teams ended off 2008 on a positive note. Ajax beat Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at home, while Santos picked up an even more impressive result when they beat Supersport 1-0 away from home.
After this home game the Urban Warriors have two successive matches away in KwaZulu-Natal against Thanda Royal Zulu and Maritzburg United. The Peoples' Team have tough back-to-back home games against title contenders Golden Arrows and BidVest Wits.
The teams have met a total of 23 times in all competitions since Ajax Cape Town was established in 1999/2000. The Urban Warriors have had the better of Santos over the years, winning 11 games to their rivals' nine, though the goals scored are dead even at 24 apiece.
In the league Ajax Cape Town have won eight of the 18 matches (seven wins to Santos), though it is Santos who have been marginally more prolific in front of goal; 21 goals scored to Ajax's 20.
Head-to-Head Stats
1999/2000
Santos 2 (Raselemane, Ithier) Ajax 0
Ajax 1 (Scott) Santos 3 (Sekhoto, Masinga, Ithier)
2000/01
Ajax 1 (Pienaar) Santos 2 (Mabeta, Ithier)
Santos 0 Ajax 1 (Evans)
Rothmans Cup Quarter final 1st leg - Santos 0 Ajax 1 (Gomes)
Rothmans Cup Quarter final 2nd leg - Ajax 2 (Mchunu, Sheppard) Santos 0
2001/02
Santos 1 (August) Ajax 0
Ajax 2 (Sheppard, Powell) Santos 1 (T. Arendse)
Coca-Cola Cup quarter final - Santos 1 (Burton) Ajax 0 - after extra time
2002/03
Santos 2 (Otieno, Ithier) Ajax 3 (Hartley 2, Carelse)
Ajax 1 (Carelse (pen)) Santos 3 (T.Arendse, Hartley (og), Ithier)
Absa Cup final - Santos 2 (T. Arendse, Moloi) Ajax 0
2003/04
Santos 1 (Arendse) Ajax 0
Ajax 1 (Kanku) Santos 0
2004/05
Ajax 1 (Shabalala) Santos 0
Santos 1 (Visser) Ajax 2 (Fanteni, Carelse)
2005/06
Santos 0 Ajax 1 (Cale)
Ajax 1 (Mulekelayi) Santos 1 (C.Scott)
2006/07
Ajax 1 (Mwafulirwa) Santos 1 (Isaacs)
Santos 0 Ajax 2 (Bageta (pen), Fanteni)
Absa Cup semifinal - Ajax 1 (Fanteni) Santos 0
2007/08
Santos 2 (Mngomeni, Isaacs (pen)) Ajax 1 (Ferreira)
Ajax 1 (Selolwane) Santos 1 (Rodgers)
