Ajax Cape Town moved to the top of the Absa Premiership log with a 2-1 win over Polokwane City at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday night.

The Urban Warriors claimed their third successive victory to move to nine points and shift Kaizer Chiefs, who beat SuperSport United earlier in the evening, down to second place.

As for Rise and Shine, they have now gone three matches without a win in the top flight league and remain in the bottom half of the log.

Ajax got off to a flying start and put themselves 2-0 up inside the opening seven minutes. Nathan Paulse opened the scoring just five minutes in, finding the back of the net with a right-footed finish.

And Polokwane were rocked again two minutes later when Bantu Mzwakali’s cross was expertly headed home by Abbubaker Mobara, with the visitors’ defence looking all at sea.

A thrilling opening quarter hour was completed with Rise and Shine pulling a goal back through Jabu Maluleke to make it 2-1. The former Black Leopards man beat Anssi Jaakkola with a well-placed shot to ripple the net.

The remainder of the first half saw the teams trade attacking chances, but no further goals were scored, leaving the Urban Warriors a goal to the good at the halftime break.

Ajax looked to add to their advantage seven minutes after the restart, but Mzwakali put his shot wide of the target, while Polokwane soon made the first change when they withdrew Sello Matjiba and put Linda Shiba on in his place.

The next notable effort on goal arrived in the 70th minute when Paulse got a shot on target, but this time City goalkeeper Pule Konopi made a comfortable save.

Ajax had to work hard and keep up their concentration in defence in the dying minutes as the visitors pushed hard for an equaliser, but Roger De Sa’s side were able to hold out and pick up another full haul of points.

Ajax Cape Town (2) 2 (Paulse 5’, Mobara 7’)

Polokwane City (1) 1 (Maluleke 15’)

Teams:

Ajax Cape Town: Jaakkola, Lolo, Mobara, Lebusa, Jenniker, Mdabuka, Mzwakali (Norodien 65’), Graham (Scott 75’), Losper (Isaacs 59’), Ncube, Paulse

Polokwane City: Konopi, Phungwayo, Mbonani, Nyadombo, Masenamela, Nene, Jacobs (Dogere 65’), Maluleke, Ngidi (Mncwango 81’), Matjila (Shiba 55’), Tlolane