Vusimuzi Mngomezulu and Rodney Ramagalela helped Polokwane City clinch a 2-1 victory over Free State Stars at Goble Park on Saturday, writes DYLAN APPOLIS.

Ea Lla Koto are currently placed 14th position in the Absa Premiership standings and are coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with Platinum Stars in midweek.

Meanwhile, Rise and Shine beat Golden Arrows 3-1 in their last outing and find themselves in sixth place in the table.

When these two sides met earlier in the campaign, Rise and Shine claimed a 1-0 win, thanks to Rodney Ramagalela’s first-half strike.

Rise and Shine came out, guns blazing, in the opening exchange of the match when Vusimuzi Mngomezulu broke the deadlock in the first minute of the match.

Thokozani Sekotlong had a good chance level matters for Stars right after the half-hour mark as he sent the ball wide of the mark from a free kick in a promising position.

The home side drew level seven minutes before half-time after Goodman Dlamini’s headed effort caught George Chigova off his line to find the back of the net.

However, Rodney Ramagalela restored his side’s lead in the 44th minute to clinch his ninth league goal of the season.

Ea Lla Koto had a chance to level matters in the 55th minute when Sekotlong was played through on goal, but Chigova denied the midfielder to keep the scoreline at 2-1.

Thela Ngobeni came to his side’s rescue in the 68th minute when he produced a fine save to deny Mngomezulu’s effort at goal.

Ea Lla Koto had most of the possession in the second-half, but struggled to carve out any real clear-cut chance in the final third.

Stars pressed forward in search of an equalising goal in the closing stages, but could not break down Rise and Shine’s defence, as Polokwane went on to claim all three points.

Image: Samuel Shivambu/Backpagepix