Pretoria - Platinum Stars moved to top spot on the log as they romped to a 3-1 victory over SuperSport United in their Premiership match at Lucas Moripe Stadium, in Pretoria, on Saturday.
Two strikes after the interval put Stars into a two-goal lead, but going well behind seemed to prompt the home side into action as they scored a goal with just over 20 minutes remaining.
But like the earlier strikes for Stars, a defensive lapse allowed the visitors to score their third and wrap up the match as a contest with 15 minutes remaining.
The win takes Stars to 14 points as they overtake Bidvest Wits who drew their match against Free State Stars.
In contrast, SuperSport remain on five points as they fell to their third defeat from the six league encounters this season.
Platinum Stars had a chance in the first minute as Eleazar Rodgers beat SuperSport keeper Ronwen Williams to a cross, but his headed attempt was just centimetres wide of goal. SuperSport had their first chance in the 10th minute through a setpiece.
Captain Thuso Phala had a dip at goal from a free kick from the edge of the area, but the shot took a deflection off the wall and sailed out for a corner.
Bradley Grobler for SuperSport had a chance from outside the box in the 23rd minute, but his effort took a deflection off a defender as the ball dribbled out.
In the 39th minute, Masibusane Zongo went for glory from a setpiece 25 metres out but his curling attempt did not threaten Williams. Two minutes later, the Stars last line of defence lost the ball carelessly and presented a sharp chance for Dove Wome in the box, and his fiercely-struck shot required a diving save from Mbongeni Mzimela in the Stars goal.
SuperSport had another chance inside the area before the break as Grobler had time and space but scuffed his shot across the face of goal.
The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play in the 53rd minute. Rodgers made a run toward the SuperSport goal and turned in a through-ball for Sibusiso Msomi who was clinical in finding the target to take a 1-0 lead for Stars.
Stars made it 2-0 on the hour mark. Bongani Ntuli was allowed by the SuperSport defence to make a run from close to the centre circle, before reeling off the shot in the area which evaded Williams as the visitors doubled their lead.
SuperSport pulled a goal back in the 68th minute. Wome chipped a cross over the Stars defence and Jeremy Brockie nailed the shot from a tight angle to make it 2-1.
Just as it appeared SuperSport were working their way back into the contest, a defensive error allowed Robert Nga'ambi to score the third for Stars.
Both Bongani Khumalo and Michael Morton watched on as the ball was headed on inside the area with Nga'ambi firing into the back of the net to compound the misery for the hosts.
The score would remain unchanged until the final whistle, as the hosts fell to yet another deflating defeat. - ANA