Platinum Stars kept up their recent good form against Kaizer Chiefs with a deserved 2-0 victory in their Absa Premiership clash at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace on Wednesday night.

The result will be music to the ears of Chiefs’ title rivals and is a first defeat in 16 games for the league leaders, not ideal preparation for their Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.

Siphelele Mthembu game Stars the lead early on before Robert Ng’ambi added a second after the break.

The home side were ahead inside 10 minutes, Ng’ambi profited on a mistake from Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande, carried the ball forward and laid on a magnificent defence-splitting pass for Mthembu to run on to.

The striker showed great composure to round Chiefs goalkeeper Reyaard Pieterse and fire into an empty net.

Siphiwe Tshabalala played a great one-two with George Lebese and thundered in a shot from the edge of the box that was narrowly wide of goal.

Second later he had Stars goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane at full-stretch again with another snap shot.

Katlego Mphela almost scored his first for Chiefs when he connected with Tshabalala’s free-kick, but his effort looped just over the bar.

Pieterse had to be smart to save a long-range effort from Lindokuhle Mbatha in what was an even and open first half contest.

Chiefs almost had their equaliser just two minutes from the break when Tshabalala’s corner was flicked on by Mphela and Tefu Mashamaite’s volley crashed onto the underside of the crossbar and bounced away to safety.

The pace of the game continued in the second half, with Tshabalala again going close as he flashed a 30-yard shot wide.

Morgan Gould had a free header from yet another set-piece, but he guided it straight at Mpontshane, when either side of the keeper might have seen him equalise.

But almost immediately the home side doubled their lead. Mbatha provided a magnificent cross from the right that was headed home by Ng’ambi on 59 minutes.

Next up for Chiefs is the Soweto derby against Orlando Pirates on Saturday, while Stars are only in action again next Wednesday at SuperSport United.

Platinum Stars (1) 2 (S Mthembu 9’, Ng’ambi 59’)

Kaizer Chiefs 0

Teams:

Platinum Stars: Mpontshane, Mere, Gumede, Semenya, Mpeta, Mathe, Mhlongo, Mbatha (Msomi 85’), Ng'ambi (Botes 90’), Nyanda (Ngwepe 76’), S Mthembu

Kaizer Chiefs: Pieterse, Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Gould (Nkhatha 64’), Masilela, Katsande, Letsholonyane, Tshabalala, Lebese (Rusike 70’), Mphela (Musona 64’)