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Orlando Pirates' PSL title hopes suffered a blow after they were held to a 0-0 draw by relegation-threatened SuperSport United at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night. However, Ajax Cape Town took a major step forward in their bid for survival when they defeated league champions Bidvest Wits to muddy the relegation equation once more and draw more teams into the fight for survival. Second-placed Pirates are now three points behind leaders Mamelodi Sundowns, but have played a game more and, with only four matches left in the season and a vastly inferior goal-difference, their title hopes are fading. Pirates went close to the opener early on when Zambian forward Justin Shonga struck the woodwork from a free-kick, and the striker then had another opportunity midway through the first period when his effort went narrowly wide. The Chipolopolo star might have had a hat-trick in the first half when he found himself through on goal, but could not beat home keeper Ronwen Williams. Pirates were dominant in the opening period and were unlucky not to take the lead again when Mpho Makola's effort came off the post just before the break. The second half had little of the spark of the first, and as the game went on, Pirates appeared to run out of ideas, with the best chance of the half falling to Luvuyo Memela, whose curling effort forced a fine save from Williams. Ajax got their much-needed three points thanks to a first-half strike from on-loan Ivorian striker Yannick Zakri. Fagrie Lakay set the forward free on goal and he beat Wits keeper Darren Keet with a fine finish. Wits might have equalised just before halftime, but former Cape Town City forward Lehlohonolo Majoro saw his shot from a tight angle hit the post. Lakay was running the show for the home side and after narrowly shooting wide, he forced a fine save from Keet just past the hour-mark. He should have sealed the points late on when set-up by Zakri, but blasted the ball wide when a more composed finish was required. Ajax are now just a single point from safety, with SuperSport United above them, while only five points separate them and Wits in 10th.
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