Kaizer Chiefs overcame a one goal deficit at halftime to win their Absa premiership match against Platinum Stars 3-2 at the Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg on Sunday.
Hosts Platinum Stars, held a firm grip on the game for 60 minutes only to see a 2-1 halftime lead turn into a loss.
Chiefs came out in the second half with the sole aim of wrestling the momentum away from Stars and did just that through two goals in five minutes around the hour mark.
With this victory Chiefs keep their title ambitions alive as they climb to third on the log on 39 points, just five behind leaders Pirates with a game in hand.
The home side started off the game faster and were in the lead within two minutes.
Stars striker Thuso Phala took the ball inside the Chiefs area and left the defence standing still as he nudged the opener past Chiefs keeper Itumeleng Khune.
Phala was again involved in the 11th minute as Stars continued their domination.
He reeled off two powerful shots in a row that were both blocked by Khune, leaving the Bafana number one berating his defence.
Chiefs pulled a goal back against the run of play in the 27th minute when midfielder Siphiwe Tshabala made a surging run down the left hand side and whipped in a swinging cross allowing Kaizer Motaung Jr to finish with powerfully struck header.
Phala restored the home side’s advantage in the 35th minute.
There was great interplay between Phala and midfielder Mduduzi Nyanda.
Quick passing between the pair allowed Phala to run untouched in the Chiefs box until he struck a fierce shot into the back of the net to give Stars a 2-1 lead.
Chiefs drew level in the match for the second time in the 61st minute. The visitors ran the ball down the right with the cross falling to Reneilwe Letsholonyane whose deft touch sent the ball behind Stars keeper Tapuwa Kapini into the goal.
Tshabala claimed the goal as he bustled the ball over the line, but Letsholonyane was credited for the equaliser.
Chiefs took the lead for the first time in the 66th minute through Motaung Jr who outmuscled the Stars defence as he got a foot on to a bounding ball in the area.
The sublime touch forced Kapini to pick the ball out his goals for the second time in five minutes while Chiefs had their noses in front for the first time. – Sapa