Polokwane City’s first Absa Premiership match since parting ways with coach Kosta Papic saw them beaten 2-0 by Free State Stars at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane on Wednesday evening.

The result extends Rise and Shine’s winless streak in the league to six matches, while Ea Lla Koto are unbeaten in four outings, three of which have been victories. Andrea Fileccia scored both goals in the dying minutes of the match.

Stars offered the first threat at goal, with Belgian forward Fileccia shooting wide in the fifth minute to begin an exchange of chances for both teams which prevailed for the remainder of the first half.

Cole Alexander came closest to breaking the deadlock with a shot on goal in the 25th minute, but Stars goalkeeper Daouda Diakite made an excellent finger-tip save to deflect the ball away from target.

Diakite’s opposite number, George Chigova, was called upon to make a good save in the dying minutes before the interval, holding onto a stinging shot from Danny Venter to ensure the half finished goalless.

Polokwane looked the more dangerous side in the early stages of the second half, with Linda Shiba almost finding a goal with a shot in the 51st minute, but Diakite was on hand again to make another fine save.

The teams continued to trade scoring chances and the game looked set to end in a stalemate, until Stars substitute Makhehlene Makhaula teed up Fileccia to score with his left foot in the 82nd minute.

And the striker soon added a second in the 89th, this time from an assist by Reabetswe Rakoti, to make it 2-0 and seal the three points for the visitors.

Polokwane City 0
Free State Stars (0) 2 (Fileccia 82’ 89’)

Polokwane: Chigova, Phungwayo, Masenamela, Mbonani, Tema, Nene, Shiba (Ndou 79’), Maluleka, Alexander, Kanyenda (Mncwango 63’), Tlolane

Stars: Diakite, Mashego, Sankara, Rakoti, Thlone, Ngassa (Somaeb 63’), Kerspuy, Masehe, Mohomi (Makhaula 78’), Venter, Fileccia