Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - A brace by Mogakolodi Ngele helped high-flying Platinum Stars come from behind to beat Wits 2-1 at Bidvest Stadium on Wednesday, as the Rustenburg outfit kept their Absa Premiership title hopes alive.
Wits had taken the lead against the run of play in the 21st minute through Ryan Chapman, but Stars were determined to show they were not out of the title race just yet.
Ngele found the equaliser on the brink of half-time with an accurate finish, and just before the hour mark, Wits conceded a soft penalty for a handball in the box, with Ngele slotting the winner for his side as they climbed within four points of league front runners Kaizer Chiefs.
The game began at a quick tempo, and the visitors soon gained control.
In the second minute Stars had their first attempt when Thuso Phala provided the cross for Enocent Mkhabela, whose close-range header was directed straight at Emile Baron in the Wits goal.
The Students replied a minute later when Ryan Chapman produced a speculative effort from the edge of the area which was saved by Stars keeper Siyabonga Mpontshane.
Ngele went on a surging run for Stars in the 12th minute and crossed for Robert Ngambi, but his header sailed just over.
Lindokuhle Mbatha toyed with the Wits defence from the middle of the park soon after, and was given acres of space before shooting over the target from the edge of the box.
Three minutes later, against the run of play, Wits caught Stars on the counter attack and Ryan Chapman was released ahead of the backpedalling defenders. Mpontshane came off his line, and Chapman cooly lobbed the ball over his head into the back of the net.
Just after the half-hour mark, Stars were awarded a free kick in a dangerous spot and Phala stepped up, but a poor effort saw the ball sail into the stands.
The turning point of the first half came when Wits could not double their lead after being awarded a penalty. Clever Boys captain Sibusiso Vilakazi took the responsibility with the shot from the spot, but Mpontshane went the right way and pulled off a good save.
Three minutes before the break, after a fluent Wits attack, a shot fell to Asive Langwe, but with plenty of space he fired his shot well over the bar.
The equaliser for Stars came on the verge of half-time. Ngele, without much room to manoeuvre, pulled off an instinctive shot which found the back of the net to level the scores.
On the hour mark, Stars were awarded a penalty of their own and Ngele made no mistake to bag three points for his team.
