Ajax Cape Town had to dig deep to secure a valuable win in their opening PSL playoff clash against Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM), running out 3-2 comeback winners on Sunday.
Both teams struggled to create more than half chances in an unproductive first half.
But the game exploded into life after the break as the Urban Warriors broke the deadlock two minutes in.
Veteran striker Eleazar Rodgers glanced the ball into an empty net with the TTM goalkeeper caught out after coming off his line to clear a cross to get Ajax buzzing and looking to take control.
But against the run of play, TTM had turned the game on its head with two headed goals.
Thembisani Nevhulamba headed home unmarked after Ajax’s defence was caught at sea by a long throw-in.
Then two minutes later, Tebogo Thangwane made it 2-1 from a corner.
Stunned, the Urban Warriors had to find their fighting spirit to get back into the game, with promotion to the PSL looking a distant prospect.
But they managed to pull level thanks to substitute Sonwabile Mfecane’s classy strike with 10 minutes to play.
Then five minutes before time, another sub, South Africa U23 fullback Kegan Johannes, volleyed home a half-cleared corner to take the lead for the second time in the match.
Ajax will have to regroup and dig deep to beat 15th-placed PSL side Black Leopards in Wednesday’s second playoff clash.