Goals from Siyabonga Nkosi and Siphiwe Tshabalala handed Kaizer Chiefs a 2-0 win over Free State Stars in an Absa Premiership encounter at the Charles Mopeli Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The win subsequently moves Chiefs to the summit of the table.

Free State Stars coach Steve Komphela made three changes to the side that held AmaZulu to a 1-1 draw in midweek. Bokang Thlone, Angelo Kerspuy and Adam Basit made way for Camaldine Abraw Anver Esterhuizen and former Amakoshi marksman Mthokozisi Yende.

Chiefs mentor Stuart Baxter, on the other hand, also made three changes to the side that thumped Polokwane City on Wednesday evening.

Knowledge Musona, Sibiniso Gaxa and Siphiwe Tshabalala returned to the starting XI. Morgan Gould and Josta Dladla missed out due to suspension.

The Amakhsoi made a bright start to the encounter, putting the home side under immense pressure and the Soweto outfit should’ve probably had the lead in the seventh minute.

Stars gifted the ball to Tefu Mashamaite following some rather average defending inside their own area, but the Chiefs centre back was unable to hit the target from point blank range.

Ea Lla Koto’s defence looked out of depth in the early exchanges and were lucky again four minutes later. Themba Shabalala’s attempted clearance landed at the feet of Knowledge Musona, but the Zimbabwean striker shot wide with only Daniel Agyei to beat.

Chiefs continued to look dangerous in attack but their finishing let them down.

As the half drew on, Stars started to find their feet and went close through Abraw and then Sibusiso Mthethwa.

It was the visitors, though, who opened the scoring through Siyabonga Nkosi in the 38th minute. The midfielder drifted into the area before nodding Tshabala’s free-kick past the helpless Agyei.

Free State Stars 0-1 Kaizer Chiefs at the break.

Stars came out stronger after the break and went close through Abraw in the 49th minute when his shot troubled the side netting.

Parker rattled the post in the 65th minute of the encounter. Itumeleng Khune distributed quickly from the back, the ball found Gaxa who in turn squared the ball to Parker but the on form striker could only manage to hit the frame.

Stars turned up the heat in the final minutes of the match and thought they had their equaliser through Ouro-Akoriko a minute from time. The Togolese header was chalked off though as he was adjudged to have been in an offside position.

Shabba settled matters in stoppage time, Parker delightfully played in the former Ea Lla Koto man who made no mistake from close range in his 200th appearance for the Glamour Boys, 2-0.

The loss subsequently demotes Ea Lla Koto down to 10th place on the Premiership log.

Teams

Stars: Agyei; Masehe, Ouro-Akoriko, Shabalala, Thebakang, Yende (Bobe 83’), Mashego, Mthethwa (Sekola 71’), Esterhuizen (Basit 63’), Venter, Abraw

Chiefs: Khune; Gaxa, Mathoho, Mashamaite, Ritchie, Nkosi, Letsholonyane (Bukenya 90+3’), Katsande, Tshabalala, Parker, Musona (Nkhatha 74’)