Baxter vexed after draw

Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter gave his team the hairdryer treatment after they allowed Platinum Stars to run circles around them in their 2-2 Premiership draw on Tuesday.

Amakhosi had to come back twice at the Peter Mokaba Stadium to preserve their unbeaten streak in the league. From 15 games, they have won 11 and drawn four.

"I was disappointed with our first half. We gave away two goals and we gave them a few massive chances because we could not pass the ball," a peeved Baxter said.

"We defended nervously, I thought we were not there in the first-half and it was a waste of time."

Stars put up a valiant effort against a familiar foe in their fifth encounter of the season. Chiefs had got the better of Dikwena in three matches, while their opponents ousted them from the Telkom Knockout competition on penalties after a goalless draw in the quarterfinals.

Robert Ng'ambi and Eleazar Rodgers struck for the visitors while goals from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Tefu Mashamaite equalised for the log leaders.

Having survived the scare, Baxter admitted it was a great game which could have been clinched by either side.

"Exciting games often have lots of mistakes and action around the goals," he said.

"We got our goal and had the game where we wanted it. But we gave it back to them. It could have ended up 4-3 for either team."

Although Chiefs fought back to earn the draw, Baxter said there was still room for improvement from his players.

"We changed the picture of the game but we let it slip about by making some horrible mistakes. We let the initiative go once we got it. I will look at this game as a bad day at the office."

Having shown great courage to rise to the occasion, Stars coach Allan Freese said victory was there for the taking.

"I thought we had it there for a moment -- unlucky for us we didn't," Freese said.

"I don't think we defended well. To concede those two goals -- we should have done better."

Freese still felt his team showed tremendous character against the best ranked team in the country.

"It was a good game between two sides who know each other well. It's what people would like to see at the stadium -- good entertaining football. It was end to end stuff."

Stars would come back stronger in their next match against Wits on Sunday after an encouraging performance, he said.

"We came away from home to play Chiefs in front of their own supporters and we gave them a tough match. We are happy about that.

"My boys gave it their best so we will take it from there. We know our position on the log and we needed the three points more than Chiefs."

Chiefs will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Chippa United on Saturday at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.