Cape Town - Cape Town City handed Platinum Stars a 4-2 beating at Moruleng Stadium on Thursday evening to return to the top of the Absa Premiership.
Goals from Thabo Nodada, Lehlohonolo Majoro, Judas Moseamedi and Aubrey Ngoma saw the Citizens to a convincing victory in rainy Rustenburg and took them back to the summit of the league table.
After a relatively uneventful first quarter of the match, it came to life in the 27th minute when Stars were awarded a soft penalty - Kobamelo Kodisang appeared to tumble rather easily under a challenge from Thabo Nodada.
Dikwena goalkeeper Mbongeni Mzimela took on the spot kick but his strike was easily saved by Shu-Aib Walters to keep the game at 0-0.
Just a few minutes later things went from bad to worse for Mzimela, who made a mess of trying to save a long-range shot from Nodada and allowed the ball to find its way over the line to make it 1-0 to City on the half hour mark.
On 43 minutes the Cape side doubled their lead when some diabolical marking from the hosts allowed Lehlohonolo Majoro to easily head home from Bhongolwethu Jayiya’s right-flank cross.
Yet Stars struck back on the stroke of half time, when a knock-down from Robert Ng’ambi at a corner kick allowed Enocent Mkhabela to poke home from close range to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The hosts had hope of recovering further in the second half, but on 66 minutes they were two goals behind again when fullback Thamsanqa Mkhize provided a fine low pass from the by-line for substitute Judas Moseamedi to score soon after coming off the bench.
On 75 minutes City made it 4-1 with a superb counter attack goal which was finished off by Aubrey Ngoma sliding a low shot through the legs of Mzimela, after Manyama had shown great presence of mind to leave the ball while in an offside position.
Stars pulled on back in injury time through Henrico Botes, but it was nothing more than a consolation for the hosts, who will be in CAF Confederation Cup action this weekend.