Dikwena run Amakhosi close

Tefu Mashamaite and Siphiwe Tshabalala cancelled out first-half strikes from Robert Ng’ambi and Eleazar Rodgers as the Amakhosi kept their unbeaten record in the league intact.

The stalemate stretches Chiefs’ lead atop the league table to 14 points while the point sees Stars move into 12th spot.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter made three changes to his team from the previous game by bringing George Maluleka, George Lebese and Morgan Gould back into the side while Stars had Vuyo Mere and Luvolwethu Mpeta out with injury.

It was the visitors who took an early lead thanks to Robert Ng’ambi when Solomon Mathe robbed Yeye Letsholonyane of the ball before setting up the Malawian to finish with a delicate touch.

Chiefs replied quickly when Siphiwe Tshabalala got on the end of a Tsepo Masilela cross to push the ball past goalkeeper Kabelo Dambe in the 16th minute after the Botswana keeper dropped the ball.

On the stroke of half-time, the troublesome Eleazar Rodgers got into the danger area to cleverly put the ball away after Tefu Mashamaite failed to clear properly with a header.

Early in the second half, Dambe made a very good save to deny Nkhatha before Tshabalala hit the rebound into the side netting. Dambe then stopped a deflected Maluleka shot.

Then, just after the hour mark Chiefs drew level once more when Tefu Mashamaite rose high to get to a Tshabalala cross and bury his header past Dambe.

Stars came close with two goal attempts in the dying seconds, first when Rodgers headed over the bar and then Ngele’s snapshot was well saved by Khuzwayo.

Scorers:
Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Tshabalala 16’ Mashamaite 62’)
Platinum Stars (1) 2 (Ng’ambi 8’ Rodgers 45’)

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khuzwayo – Gaxa (Mathoho 57’), Mashamaite, Masilela, Gould - Maluleka, Katsande, Letsholonyane (Parker 55’), Lebese (Masango 57’), S Tshabalala - Nkhatha

Platinum Stars: Dambe – T Tshabalala, Mabule, Semenya, Gumede – Ng’ambi (Ngele 79’), Tshikovi, Mathe, Makudubela – Mabena (Nyanda 60’), Rodgers