Kaizer Chiefs and Platinum Stars played to an entertaining draw in an Absa Premiership game at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday evening. Dikwena twice went up, but the Amakhosi equalized both times thanks to goals from Siphiwe Tshabalala and Tefu Mashamaite. The Amakhosi are on top of the league log with 37 points from 15 matches.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter decided to start with George Lebese, Morgan Gould and George Maluleka ahead of Mandla Masango, Erick Mathoho and Bernard Parker, who had sustained a slight ankle injury against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

The Amakhosi had a sloppy start to the game. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, normally so reliable, lost the ball in his own half to Solomon Mathe. The Stars midfielder ran towards the Chiefs box before laying the ball off to Robert Ng’ambi who coolly slotted the ball in the goal.

It was an early wake-up call and it moved the Chiefs players into action. Slowly, slowly, the pressure grew on the Dikwena goal and it resulted in the equalizer in the 16th minute. Tsepo Masilela’s cross reached Tshabalala, who finished with his left from close range.

Hereafter, the game went up and down with especially the Amakhosi defence looking less secure than normal. Still, the home side got a few chances to score the second goal. On the other hand, Chiefs goalkeeper Brilliant Khuzwayo was also called into action a few times.

It was Stars that got their second goal on the brink of halftime when Eleazar Rodgers put the ball past Khuzwayo.

Chiefs came out of the dressing room livelier, with better passing and movement in midfield. It resulted in a great opportunity for Kingston Nkhatha in the 53rd minute, but the Zimbabwean striker failed to put the ball past the Stars goalkeeper, who made a fine safe.

Baxter was clearly unhappy with the proceedings, making three changes before the hour. With Parker, Mathoho and Lebese coming on for Letsholonyane, Siboniso Gaxa and Masango.

Parker quickly got into the action, getting a chance in the 61st minute, but his header miraculously didn’t find the back of the net. But the pressure kept building and one minute later it was captain Mashamaite who put the ball past the Stars goalkeeper, after an excellent cross from the right by Tshabalala.

The Amakhosi continued to put pressure on the Dikwena defence. However, it couldn’t be sustained for very long after the equalizer. Stars, meanwhile, defended in numbers, hoping to catch the home side on the break.

In the end, it stayed 2-2.

Chiefs will host Chippa United at Polokwane’s Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday, 13 December (kick-off at 18:00).

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Tshabalala 16’, Mashamaite 62’)

Platinum Stars (2) 2 (Ng’ambi 7’, Eleazar Rodgers 45’)

Teams:

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

Platinum Stars: Dambe, Mabule, Gumede, Tshikovhi, Tshabalala, Mathe, Semenya, Mabena (Nyanda 58’), Ng’ambi (Ngele 79’), Makudubela, Rodgers