Kaizer Chiefs kept themselves in contention for the Absa Premiership title with a 2-1 away win over Platinum Stars at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday night, thanks to goals from Lehlohonolo Majoro and Abia Nale.

The win sees the Amakhosi move up to fourth place on the table, three points adrift of co-leaders Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates (who are both yet to play in this round of matches). Dikwena drop to 11th on the log, with their six-match unbeaten streak coming to an abrupt end.

Chiefs got off to the perfect start, opening the scoring in just the third minute. Siphiwe Tshabalala picked up a loose ball from Vuyo Mere and motored down the left flank before providing a perfect cross for the unmarked Lehlohonolo Majoro to head home from the middle.

Stars created some decent opportunities to get back on level terms, but on 25 minutes they found themselves 2-0 down: Abia Nale found space on the left of the penalty area and smashed home a left-footed shot that beat goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane at his near post.

Three minutes later Stars threatened to pull one back when Sipho Nkosi got onto the end of a free kick by Robert Ng’ambi and powered a header on target, but veteran goalkeeper Arthur Bartman pushed the ball around the post for a corner kick.

On 33 minutes the Amakhosi should have extended their advantage, as Nale again raced free down the left of the penalty area, beating Mabokgwane to the ball, but instead of playing a low cross that would have handed either Bernard Parker or Majoro a tap-in, the winger fired a shot that flashed harmlessly across the face of goal.

Both sides made changes at the start of the second half, with Stars attempting to solidify their defence with the introduction of Mbhuyiselo Sambu, while Chiefs shored up their midfield by bringing on the vastly-experienced Tinashe Nengomasha.

In the 58th minute Dikwena created another chance to get themselves on the score board: Sibusiso Msomi provided a great cross from the right flank to find Ng’ambi in the middle, but the attacking midfielder was unable to direct an effort on target from close range.

Finally, with 13 minutes to play, Stars got themselves back in the game. Substitute Patrick Malokase got his third goal in as many games, capitalising on some poor Chiefs defending to control a Vuyo Mere cross in the penalty area before firing a low shot into the back of the net.

Having dominated the second half, the hosts would have felt that a second goal to bring them on level terms was more than deserved, but they were unable to make good on the late chances they created, the best of which saw Lindokuhle Mbatha volley over the crossbar in the last minute of regulation time.

Platinum Stars (0) 1 (Malokase 77’)

Kaizer Chiefs (2) 2 (Majoro 3’, Nale 25’)

Stars: Mabokgwane; Mere, Semenya, Nkosi (Sambu 46’), Ngwepe, Jembula (Mbatha 38’), Nyauza, Ng’ambi, Msomi, Phala, Botes (Malokase 71’)

Chiefs: Bartman; Tau, Mashamaite, Isaacs, Ritchie, Nale (Dladla 74’), Baloyi (Nengomasha 46’), Katsande, Tshabalala, Parker (Masango 90+3’), Majoro