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Johannesburg - Platinum Stars showed their early season form is no flash in the pan as they ran out 2-0 winners over previously unbeaten Kaizer Chiefs in an exciting Absa Premiership game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday.
The result takes the team from the North West up to third spot above Maritzburg United for the time being and leaves them five points behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
There were early half chances for both sides as Mogakolodi Ngele shot straight at Itumeleng Khune, with Lehlohonolo Majoro doing likewise at the other end for the visitors.
But overall it was a determined Dikwena who were the stronger side during the opening half and they took a deserved lead after 15 minutes when Henrico Botes slotted the ball past Khune for a composed low finish into the bottom corner after being put in on goal by Thuso Phala.
Within 10 minutes and Chiefs were to fall a further goal behind when Botes floated a brilliant ball across field for Edward Tshabalala, who squared the ball to the edge of the area for Ngele to fire home via a deflection.
AmaKhosi would have felt hard done by not to have had the chance to pull a goal back a minute before the break when a goal-bound Majoro was booked for protesting after being flagged off side, although he seemed to be on-side.
It could have got worse for Chiefs though in added time when Botes’ overhead kicked rocked the woodwork.
The second half failed to deliver the quality and goalmouth action of the first half as Stars were relatively happy to sit back and soak up any pressure that came their way.
This resulted in disjointed and scrappy football as neither team were able to find penetration in and around the opposition box.
On 65 minutes though Innocent Mkhabela had a good chance to make it three for Stars as he broke through on goal before losing his marker, but he shot straight at Khune.
Botes then also missed another chance to extend the lead when he miscued after a great team move by Stars.
Chiefs upped the ante as the match approached the 75 minute mark, but their efforts, through Siphiwe Tshabalala Nkatha, were either off target or from too far away to trouble the Dikwena goal.
Willard Katsande had two shots from distance in the dying minutes, while Nkatha fluffed a decent chance in the box, but it was not to be Chiefs’ day as Stuart Baxter’s side lost for the first time in the league in 12 games.
The result takes the team from the North West up to third spot above Maritzburg United for the time being and leaves them five points behind log leaders Kaizer Chiefs.
There were early half chances for both sides as Mogakolodi Ngele shot straight at Itumeleng Khune, with Lehlohonolo Majoro doing likewise at the other end for the visitors.
But overall it was a determined Dikwena who were the stronger side during the opening half and they took a deserved lead after 15 minutes when Henrico Botes slotted the ball past Khune for a composed low finish into the bottom corner after being put in on goal by Thuso Phala.
Within 10 minutes and Chiefs were to fall a further goal behind when Botes floated a brilliant ball across field for Edward Tshabalala, who squared the ball to the edge of the area for Ngele to fire home via a deflection.
AmaKhosi would have felt hard done by not to have had the chance to pull a goal back a minute before the break when a goal-bound Majoro was booked for protesting after being flagged off side, although he seemed to be on-side.
It could have got worse for Chiefs though in added time when Botes’ overhead kicked rocked the woodwork.
The second half failed to deliver the quality and goalmouth action of the first half as Stars were relatively happy to sit back and soak up any pressure that came their way.
This resulted in disjointed and scrappy football as neither team were able to find penetration in and around the opposition box.
On 65 minutes though Innocent Mkhabela had a good chance to make it three for Stars as he broke through on goal before losing his marker, but he shot straight at Khune.
Botes then also missed another chance to extend the lead when he miscued after a great team move by Stars.
Chiefs upped the ante as the match approached the 75 minute mark, but their efforts, through Siphiwe Tshabalala Nkatha, were either off target or from too far away to trouble the Dikwena goal.
Willard Katsande had two shots from distance in the dying minutes, while Nkatha fluffed a decent chance in the box, but it was not to be Chiefs’ day as Stuart Baxter’s side lost for the first time in the league in 12 games.
