Santos' woes continue

Cape Town - Santos' woes continued on Wednesday night with their fourth consecutive Absa Premiership loss - a 2-1 defeat by Platinum Stars at the Athlone Stadium. .

The Cape side were guilty of giving away possession far too easily and simply not showing enough urgency in attack for most of the 90 minutes.

The first half was a mixed one for the home side, who took a one goal lead into the break, but also played most of the half with only 10 men after Erwin Isaacs was sent off for a reckless tackle in the eighth minute.

Three minutes later, and rather surprisingly, the Peoples' Team were ahead, Eleazar Rodgers doing well to react quickly in order to head home Matthew Pattison's free kick, which had taken a deflection off the head of a Stars defender.

The Cape side did well despite their numerical disadvantage and had further chances as Tyren Arendse's curler was tipped over the bar, while Pattison was close to being played in by Jurie Basie.

Stars had their moments in attack, certainly enjoying good ball possession, but rarely threatened in the final third.

Their best chance came just before the break, but Santos' giant keeper Pa Demba Touray was up to the challenge, making a good save to keep out Patrick Malokase at the near post.

It was one way traffic in the second half as Stars mounted wave after wave of attacks.

Dikwena drew level in the 70th minute - via the penalty spot after Thabiso Ntloana was ruled to have fouled Malokse; Vuyo Mere doing the formality.

Two minutes later and the visitors were ahead for the first time when Malokase struck with a clinical header after finding himself unmarked at a corner.

There was simply no way back after that for Santos as they lacked ideas in attack and found it impossible to penetrate a Stars defence that had effectively shut up shop.