Free State Stars edged out Polokwane City 3-2 in an Absa Premiership match at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Tuesday.

The victory takes Ea Lla Koto to position 12 on the league standings, while Rise and Shine slip down to the 13th spot on the table.

Rise and Shine were the better side in the early exchanges of the match as they pressed Ea Lla Koto in search of an early goal.

However, the visitors looked dangerous on the counter-attack and they managed to break the deadlock in the 15th minute.

Mohammed Anas scored with a tap in following a mistake by Polokwane goalkeeper George Chigova and the striker made it 1-0 to Stars.

The momentum was now with Ea Lla Koto as the home side was unsettled by the Martizburg United marksman's early goal.

It was soon 2-0 to Stars after Anas unleashed a powerful shot from outside the Polokwane box and it beat Chigova in the 23rd minute.

Stars were running riot as Paulus Masehe made it 3-0 to the visitors a minute later with a well-taken shot from outside the box.

However, the former Orlando Pirates midfielder was sent off in the 38th minute after receiving his second yellow card and Stars were reduced to 10 men.

The score was 3-0 to Stars at the interval following a first-half which was dominated by Ea Lla Koto with Rise and Shine failing to contain them.

The hosts were looking to take advantage of their numerical superiority over Stars in the opening stages of the second-half.

Stars keeper Badra Ali Sangare made a good save to deny Rodney Ramagalela, who had combined nicely with Puleng Tlolane.

However, the shot-stopper was beaten by Walter Musona, who beat Sangare with a decent header to make it 3-1 in the 58th minute.

Luc Eymael, the Stars coach, who was up against his former side, responded by introducing Katlego Mashego, a defender-cum-midfielder on the hour-mark.

Ramagalela, Polokwane's star striker, was tightly marked by Stars central defender Bangaly Keita with time running out for the home side.

But Sammy Seabi managed to grab a late goal for Polokwane in the 80th minute - making it in the 80th minute and pressure mounted on the Stars in the closing stages.

However, Stars were able to hold on to their slender lead in the closing stages of the match and they ran out 3-2 winners over Polokwane.

Polokwane (0) 2 (Musona 58', Seabi 80')

FS Stars (3) 3 (Anas 15', 23', Masehe 24')

Polokwane: Chigova, Tshehla, Tshilo, Hlongwane, Mbonani, Seabi, Jacobs (Musona 30'), Mngomezulu (Ndou 64'), Maluleke, Ramagalela, Tlolane (Mokondelela 89').

FS Stars: Sangare, Masehe, Mobbie, Keita, Phungwayo, Mbhele, Vilakazi, Potsane (Mashego 60'), Manqele (Abbubakar 41'), Anas (73'), Jantjie.