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Cape Town - Ndumiso Mabena's second-half strike helped Platinum Stars defeat Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-0 in an Absa Premiership game played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Dikwena remained third on the league table following their victory, while Aces also stayed on position seven on the table.
Goal scoring opportunities were far and few in between in the opening stages of the match and the two goalkeepers were not tested.
Dikwena duo Tlou Segolela and Ndumiso Mabena combined in the 14th minute inside the Aces box, but the latter fired over the crossbar.
The home were dealt a major blow in the 19th minute when injured Bonginkosi Ntuli was replaced by Eleazar Rodgers.
Aces forward Sibusiso Mabena also tried his luck from range in the 27th minute and his effort went wide of the target.
Ten minutes before the half-time break, Stars winger Masibusane Zongo played a good cross into the Aces box, but it was well cleared by the defence.
Mabena's beautiful pass found his Stars teammate Segolela inside the box, but the winger fired over the Stars goal five minutes after the restart.
In the 58th minute, former Mamelodi Sundowns striker Rodgers placed his header inches wide of Aces goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane's left-upright.
Dikwena kept pushing for the first goal and they were rewarded in the 68th minute as Mabena beat Mabokwane with a good finish to make it 1-0 to Stars.
The former Orlando Pirates striker then tried to score from range in the 79th minute, but his effort failed to beat Mabokgwane who made an easy save.
Aces' late attacks proved futile as Stars held onto their slender lead and they emerged 1-0 winners on the day.
