Tshabalala header ends Chiefs’ winless run

There was little to separate the teams in a first half which saw both sides battling to create clear-cut openings on goal.

Chiefs took control 10 minutes into the second stanza and grew increasingly dangerous after Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker came off the bench to help their side claim maximum points.

Chiefs had the first chance on the night when Joseph Molangoane put in a dangerous cross on seven minutes which only just eluded Dumisani Zuma.

Stars had their first opportunity five minutes later when Bongi Ntuli cut into the box and fired goalwards, but he pulled his shot wide of the target.

Chiefs were to go on to enjoy slightly more of the play, but they struggled to find the spark needed up front to unlock the home defence, while Dikwena midfielder Robert Ng'ambi missed a couple of half chances for the hosts in what proved a tight and sometimes cagey first half. 

The action heated up after the restart and Amakhosi 'keeper Itumeleng Khune was twice called into action, doing well to keep out efforts from Sibusiso Msomi and Vuyo Mere.

At the other end, Molangoane had a free header eight metres out, but he headed straight at Stars 'keeper Dino Visser, who also saved a header from Willard Katsande.

The Soweto giants were growing in confidence and they broke the deadlock on 70 minutes when Tshabalala found space in the box and scored with a superb diving header from Philani Zulu's pin-point cross.

As Stars' resistance crumbled, Amakhosi were able to play out the closing minutes with little threat to their lead and could even have added more goals if they had taken a couple of half chances late on.