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Johannesburg - Kaizer Chiefs left it late to come from behind and defeat Free State Stars 2-1 at the FNB Stadium on Saturday night.
Edward Manqele gave the visitors the lead before goals from Sthembiso Ngcobo and Lincoln Zvasiya handed Amakhosi the three points.
It was Ee La Koto who got the opener on 15 minutes in sensational fashion through Manqele who beat the offside trap after an inch-perfect chipped pass from Dove Wome. Manqele collected outside the area and his strike thundered past a hapless Arthur Bartman and snuck in off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite Chiefs dominating early possession, the Free State side should have gone 2-0 up ten minutes later, but Katlego Mashego missed a golden chance when he failed to connect a cross with only Bartman to beat.
Chiefs were lucky to still have 11 men on the park a minute later when Manqele beat the offside trap for the second time. Bartman came rushing out of his area and handled the ball after Manqele appeared to have rounded him, but the referee only gave a yellow card despite the keeper being the last defender. Ea Lla Koto wasted the resultant free-kick as it went way into the stands.
Seconds before the break it was another great chance for Ea La Koto, but Boitumelo Sekgobela was inches away from getting a touch on Manqele's cross.
Chiefs started the second half the much brighter team and Reneilwe Letsholonyane nearly got the home side level when he thundered a long-range effort past Mweene, but it flew just above the crossbar.
It was Chiefs coming desperately close again on the hour when Parker found space down the right and crossed into the area. An unmarked Mandla Masongo got the header, but he failed to direct it on target as the chance went begging.
With 20 minutes left to play Manqele wasted another fantastic opportunity for the visitors as he found acres of space on the right of the area. With only Bartman to beat the Stars striker went for power over accuracy and slammed it into the side netting.
Vladimir Vermozovic then brought on former Free State Stars man Ngcobo and it proved an inspired substitution as the striker got between two defenders and headed home Masango's cross.
The winner came with ten minutes remaining on the clock when Zvasiya launched a speculative shot from just inside the Stars half. It was an awkward bounce for Mweene and the keeper failed to hold on as it rolled into the back of the net.
Edward Manqele gave the visitors the lead before goals from Sthembiso Ngcobo and Lincoln Zvasiya handed Amakhosi the three points.
It was Ee La Koto who got the opener on 15 minutes in sensational fashion through Manqele who beat the offside trap after an inch-perfect chipped pass from Dove Wome. Manqele collected outside the area and his strike thundered past a hapless Arthur Bartman and snuck in off the underside of the crossbar.
Despite Chiefs dominating early possession, the Free State side should have gone 2-0 up ten minutes later, but Katlego Mashego missed a golden chance when he failed to connect a cross with only Bartman to beat.
Chiefs were lucky to still have 11 men on the park a minute later when Manqele beat the offside trap for the second time. Bartman came rushing out of his area and handled the ball after Manqele appeared to have rounded him, but the referee only gave a yellow card despite the keeper being the last defender. Ea Lla Koto wasted the resultant free-kick as it went way into the stands.
Seconds before the break it was another great chance for Ea La Koto, but Boitumelo Sekgobela was inches away from getting a touch on Manqele's cross.
Chiefs started the second half the much brighter team and Reneilwe Letsholonyane nearly got the home side level when he thundered a long-range effort past Mweene, but it flew just above the crossbar.
It was Chiefs coming desperately close again on the hour when Parker found space down the right and crossed into the area. An unmarked Mandla Masongo got the header, but he failed to direct it on target as the chance went begging.
With 20 minutes left to play Manqele wasted another fantastic opportunity for the visitors as he found acres of space on the right of the area. With only Bartman to beat the Stars striker went for power over accuracy and slammed it into the side netting.
Vladimir Vermozovic then brought on former Free State Stars man Ngcobo and it proved an inspired substitution as the striker got between two defenders and headed home Masango's cross.
The winner came with ten minutes remaining on the clock when Zvasiya launched a speculative shot from just inside the Stars half. It was an awkward bounce for Mweene and the keeper failed to hold on as it rolled into the back of the net.
