Kaizer Chiefs held off a fighting Platinum Stars outfit to pick up a 2-1 win, and vital points in the Premier League race, in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg, on Saturday evening.
Chiefs bounced back from a shock 1-0 defeat to strugglers Black Leopards on Tuesday to stay in contact with the pacesetters in a tight championship contest.
Lehlohonolo Majoro struck with a header in the third minute, timing the ball well after a cross from Siphiwe Tshabalala on
the left, to give the visitors the early lead.
And Abia Nale doubled the score in the 25th minute, slotting a left-footed shot into the top corner of the net.
Stars had their best chance of the opening period three minutes later when Chiefs goalkeeper Arthur Bartman was forced to dive left, keeping out an effort from Sipho Nkosi.
Nale had another opportunity 10 minutes before the break but he fired his shot across the goalmouth as it sailed wide to the right.
Stars came close twice within a couple of minutes, with half an hour left in the match, but Robert Ng’ambi and Vuyo Mere both fired over the crossbar.
Five minutes later Tshabalala also blasted an effort too high for Chiefs as the defence on both sides of the field stood firm.
Lindokuhle Mbatha struck a shot straight to Bartman, as Stars were frustrated in their attempt to narrow the gap, but Patrick Malokase finally put them on the scoresheet in the 76th minute.
Malokase, who had come on as a substitute seven minutes earlier, pounced on a loose ball and tapped it past Bartman from close range for a consolation goal.
Platinum Stars, who had gone unbeaten in their previous six league matches to draw clear of the relegation zone, remained rooted to the bottom half of the table. — Sapa