Chiefs left seeing Stars in Rustenburg

Platinum Stars virtually ended Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of retaining their Absa Premiership title when they beat the defending champions 2-0.

Rustenburg – Platinum Stars virtually ended Kaizer Chiefs’ hopes of retaining their Absa Premiership title when they beat the defending champions 2-0 in a league match at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Wednesday night.

Dumiso Mabena opened the scoring for Stars in the first half when his shot took a deflection off Chiefs defender Eric Mathoho. The striker then added a second goal from the penalty spot 11 minutes before the end regulation time.

Chiefs now trail league leaders Mamelodi Sundowns by 13 points with only eight matches remaining in the league. Stars, on the other hand, moved up to fourth place in the league – two points behind Chiefs – after their 10th win of the campaign.

The home side had the first crack at goal in the third minute when midfielder Robert Ng’ambi tested Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune from long range. However, the Bafana Bafana goalkeeper made a solid save low to his left.

Ng’ambi and Mabena then combined nicely five minutes later outside the Chiefs penalty area, but Khune again came to the rescue of the visitors.

Chiefs had a great chance in the 14th minute when William Twala sent in a pinpoint cross towards Camaldine Abraw at the far post. However, the striker couldn’t keep his header down. Two minutes later Lucky Baloyi had another great chance for Chiefs, but he also couldn’t hit the target.

Mabena then opened the scoring in the 24th minute. His shot was headed into the top corner, but Mathoho’s deflection helped the ball to beat Khune.

Mathoho then almost scored an own goal on the half-hour mark. He headed a clearance into one of his teammates, but fortunately for the tall defender the rebound went wide.

Chiefs pressed in the second half, but the Stars defence did well to prevent any clear-cut chances. And, because Chiefs had to throw numbers forward, they left themselves open to the counter-attack.

Masibusane Zongo delivered a nice pass into Ng’ambi in the 57th minute, but the attacking midfielder’s header just sailed wide of the target.

Chiefs almost equalised in the 63rd minute when Siphiwe Tshabalala drove towards the edge of the Stars box, before unleashing a low strike. However, his effort went wide of the Stars goal.

The home side were awarded a penalty in the 78th minute when Chiefs striker Bernard Parker handled the ball inside the area. Mabena then cheekily chipped Khune from the penalty spot to make it 2-0.

Parker almost made up for his blunder a few minutes later, but he also couldn’t get his effort on target on a disappointing night for Chiefs. – African News Agency (ANA)