A last minute goal from Daine Klate earned the depleted defending Absa Premiership champions SuperSport United a deserved 1-1 draw against a defensive Platinum Stars at the Super Stadium on Wednesday night.

A week ago at the same venue SuperSport were stunned when a last minute goal earned Santos a 2-2 draw. But although the defending champions were on top for most of this match, coach Gavin Hunt will be happy to take a point against a side that came to defend.

One can see why Stars have only scored eight goals in 14 matches. They showed little imagination in attack.

United were forced to start the match minus injured strikers Glen Salmons and Anthony Lafform as well as suspended centre backs Bongani Khumalo and Morgan Gould.

The league champions had the better of the opening 45 minutes in which Stars were content to sit back, soak up the pressure and try and hit their hosts on the counter attack.

United's Mozambique striker Dario Monteiro was wide in the second minute after some promising build up from the home side.

United kept up the pressure and came close in the 13th minute when Jabu Maluleke headed fractionally over the Stars crossbar.

United's best effort in this period came three minutes later when Ugandan international striker Brian Umony shaved the woodwork with a well hit shot.

Stars George Mofokeng headed over the crossbar from a rare corner on 19 minutes and Kagiso Senamela produced a routine save from United's goalkeeper Emille Baron in the 31st minute. But once again Stars' lack of punch in attack was glaring.

United suffered another setback when Monteiro was forced to withdraw with injury. He was replaced by Thabo Mongalo in the 34th minute.

Stars keeper Tapuwa Kapini did well to save a fiercely struck shot from Klate in the 51st minute.

But the home side were rocked when a poor back pass from Rudi Isaacs was intercepted by Japanese striker Norikazu Murakami who had an easy job of sliding the ball into an empty net in the 60th minute.

The goal inspired Stars who finally started showing more aggression in attack. Baron was forced to make a stunning save from a well struck shot from Namibian striker Henrico Botes in the 73rd minutes as Stars tried to seal the win.

Five minutes later Stars winger Dillon Sheppard was wide with a shot after a well worked corner with Coldrin Coetzee.

But United were down but far from out. Klate forced Tapini to make another match winning save in the 89th minute but less than a minute latrer the live wire Klate had snatched a last gasp equaliser with a diving header to make it 1-1.