Kaizer Chiefs have beaten Platinum Stars 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match played at Soccer City with goals by Bernard Parker and Knowledge Musona, while Tintswalo Tshabalala netted for Dikwena.

Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter made a number of changes to his team, opting to rest Siphiwe Tshabalala, Tsepo Masilela and Knowledge Musona ahead of Tuesday’s MTN8 semifinal second leg with Orlando Pirates.

Baxter gave rare starts to Siyabonga Nkosi, Keegan Ritchie and Josta Dladla.

In the 11th minute, Stars created an exciting combination which resulted in a shot from Mogakolodi Ngele but it drifted just past the upright.

In the 18th minute Lehlohonolo Majoro wasted two very good scoring chances. First, after a delightful right wing cross, ‘Major’ flew in at the far post, but could not get anything onto the ball with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Then, just seconds later, Majoro was put through on goal by Siyabonga Nkosi and he tried to lob Siyabonga Mpontshane but put way too much power behind the ball and it flew over the crossbar.

But Amakhosi did find the opener just two minutes later through Bernard Parker. Nkosi did brilliantly on the left side of the danger area, beating his man and sending in a precise cross which Parker acrobatically volleyed home. It was a great piece of team work by Chiefs.

Chiefs went on to miss several good scoring opportunities with Katsande, Nkosi and Mathoho all going close.

Then, on the stroke of halftime Stars caught Chiefs on the break and equalised against the run of play. A ball was played in behind Dladla at right back, Siphelele Mthembu got into space and fired a shot at Khune who could only parry the ball into Tintswalo Tshabalala’s path and he buried the shot.

On the hour mark, Stars had a really good chance when Tintswalo Tshabalala ghosted in behind Ritchie and almost met a cross at the far post to score.

Second half substitute Knowledge Musona netted the second goal for Chiefs just nine minutes after coming on. With Stars goalkeeper Mpontshane in no-man's land in the 69th minute, Musona just had to get a slight touch to guide home a near post header from Parker's corner.

A minute later, Stars skipper Vuyo Mere rattled Khune’s crossbar with a fantastic first time free-kick. So close for Dikwena.

Inside the final ten minutes George Lebese did very well to make space inside the area and got in a cross to Siphiwe Tshabalala, but he just could not get enough on the ball at the far post.

Kaizer Chiefs (1) 2 (Parker 20’ Musona 68’)

Platinum Stars (1) 1 (Tshabalala 45’)

Teams:

Kaizer Chiefs: Khune, Dladla, Mathoho, Gould, Ritchie, Lebese (Mashamaite 90’), Katsande, Letsholonyane, Parker, Nkosi (Tshabalala 59’), Majoro (Musona 60’)

Platinum Stars: Mpontshane, Mere, Mhlongo, Gumede, Mpeta, Tshabalala, Sarr, Ngambi (Malokase 82’), Nyanda (Chinyama 77’), Ngele (Msomi 77’), S Mthembu