Leaders Kaizer Chiefs surrendered an 11-match unbeaten run in the South African Premiership Wednesday by losing 2-0 at Platinum Stars.
The defending champions last lost on November 5 away to Ajax Cape Town, and 10 wins and a draw transformed a side that started the season slowly into title favourites.
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But England-born coach Stuart Baxter warned last week that a hectic domestic and CAF Champions League schedule would inevitably take its toll.Cup specialists and top-half league outfit Platinum lost narrowly away to Chiefs in the first round and were up for the challenge to emerge deserved winners.
An early goal from Siphelele Mthembu gave them belief and Malawi star Robert Ng'ambi struck just before the hour to derail a Chiefs comeback.
Another turning point came just after half-time at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in north-western mining town Rustenburg when the woodwork foiled Chiefs.
Stars failed to clear a corner and centre-back Tefu Mashamaite latched on a loose ball only to see his snap shot come back off the crossbar.
Platinum goalkeeper Siyabonga Mpontshane could later afford to tease the large, predominantly Chiefs-supporting crowd by standing on the ball using one foot.
Media-shy Stars coach Allan Freese had a crisp post-match message: "I told each player to give his best -- and they did."
Baxter accepted defeat sportingly: "We lost away to a good football team whose goals were perfectly timed.
"I have no complaints. We ran and we fought only to come up short. The second goal was a killer blow."
Chiefs have 43 points, Mamelodi Sundowns and Wits University 37 each, Orlando Pirates 33, SuperSport United 32 and Platinum 31 with 10 matches left.
Pirates, who face arch rivals Chiefs Saturday, made a winning start under Serb coach Vladimir Vermezovic by shading Moroka Swallows 1-0 in Soweto.
Kermit Erasmus struck the woodwork before scoring the lone goal nine minutes into a clash of decades-old rivals at Dobsonville Stadium.
A long cross-field ball from Thabo Matlaba unhinged Swallows and Erasmus gave Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia no chance with a hard shot into the corner.
Success was particularly sweet for 2013 CAF Champions League runners-up Pirates as they lost both league games against the 'Birds' last season.
Bottom club Lamontville Golden Arrows slumped 2-1 at home against Mpumalanga Black Aces -- a third consecutive defeat under caretake coach and former South Africa star Shaun Bartlett.
Polokwane City, third last six points above Arrows, remain in the relegation quagmire after a disastrous season on the road continued with a 2-1 loss at Bloemfontein Celtic.
Source : Globalpost.com
Tags : psl, chiefs, platimun starts, piratez