The defending champions gave little away and outplayed the Limpopo team in every department on the night as veteran midfielder John 'Shoes' Moshoeu headed in the first goal and Zambia international Collins Mbesuma got the winner for the Amakhosi.

The ever-green Moshoeu scored in the 34th minute when Arthur '10111' Zwane delivered an inch perfect cross onto the head of the former Bafana Bafana midfield maestro who made no mistake from within the 18-yard-area.

This was Moshoeu's second goal of the 2004/05 season.

Stars did not take a back seat to the buoyant fans who demanded more goals and nearly silenced the 30 000-strong crowd in the 45th minute when Francis Kombe won a free header but the striker could not keep his attempt down and the ball just sailed over the goalposts with Chiefs keeper Rowen Fernandez well beaten.

The Amakhosi backfour of Cyril Nzama, Simphiwe Mkhonza, Fabian McCarthy and Patrick Mabedi brilliantly contained the visitors attacks as they searched for an equaliser.

The hosts went into the break with a one goal advantage.

Amakhosi then continued to search for the goal to increase thier lead but Stars frustrated the home team and stifled their attacks.

A breakthrough for the league champs came when Stanley Kgatla was shown a second yellow card and ultimately a red card which reduced his team to ten men after 53 minutes played.

It appeared that referee Peter Mabuza sent off Kgatla for dissent.

The Phefeni team made use of their numerical advantage and continued to press forward.

One of the marauding runs of Nzama down the right flank produced a penalty when a Stars defender brought the 30-year-old down in the penalty area. The referee did not hesitate to point to the spot.

The Amakhosi faithful started celebrating the goal as Moshoeu stepped up to increase his tally to three but former Hellenic goalkeeper Gareth Ormshaw denied the veteran, and Chiefs, to increase their lead to the dismay of the bench and the crowd.

However Mbesuma continued his brilliant form of goalscoring when he turned Oscar Ntwagae and blasted the ball from 30-yards past Ormshaw in the 66th minute.

Victory seemed certain for the Chiefs fans.

Victor Dos Santos was introduced by coach Owen Da Gama and the former Sundowns striker repaid the coach's faith in him.

Dos Santos scored a consolation goal in the 84th minute for the hard working Lions of the North but it was too late as Chiefs held on for another vital three points.

Stars have not beaten Chiefs in four outings and the latter have nine points from three games while their latest victims have four points from as many games.

Teams

Chiefs: Fernandez, Nzama, McCarthy, Mkhonza, Mabedi, Nengomasha, Zwane(Mbambo74), Mathebula(Sibeko67), Mbesuma, Moshoeu(Radebe81), Ngobese

Stars: Ormshaw, Kasongo, Ntwagae, Mogaile, Mathe, Kgatla, Pule, Mashao, Ramakalo(Ngobeni 89), Maluleke(Masanabo 71), Kombe(Dos Santos 56)

Referee: Peter Mabuza

Yellow cards: Kgatla 2nd minute

Red cards: Kgatla 53rd minute