Kagiso Senamela scored a late winner for Platinum Stars as they defeated Golden Arrows 2-1 in an Absa Premiership match played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Arrows took the lead from head of Thamsanqa Gabuza in the 23rd minute while Stars ensured these precious three home points from a penalty kick by Japanese import Norikazu Murakami in the 35th minute and a goal from Senamela in the 84th minute.

Arrows coach Manqoba Mngqithi started the game without his reliable but unsettled defender Siyabonga Sangweni, who is reported to be distracted by persistent rumours of a possible big money move to one of the big Johannesburg clubs or overseas.

In his place at central defence, he deployed Musa Bilankulu, who partnered captain Joseph Musonda and they had a busy afternoon against the likes of Henrico Botes and Murakami who led the attack for Stars.

The hosts created the first notable chance of the game in the ninth minute when midfielder Kagiso Senamela forced a stunning save out of Arrows goalkeeper Thulasizwe Khuzwayo with a thunderous shot.

A few minutes later, the upright came to the rescue for Stars with their goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini nowhere to be seen as they failed to clear a dangerous ball that was somehow left unattended in the penalty box.

In the 20th minute, Stars managed to break the Arrows defence with a quick attacking move where the final ball landed on the path of Murakami but he blasted his effort over the crossbar with Khuzwayo to beat.

As the first half progressed, the Stars supporters nearly lost their patience with Murakami who committed a few school boy errors from good attacking positions.

With those missed chances still fresh on their minds, Arrows opened the scoring from the header of Gabuza who finished off a cross from his team-mate to beat Kapini and silence the home.

However, the goal sparked some more energy in the work of Stars as they continued to press forward and they were duly rewarded in the 35th minute when Dillon Sheppard was brought down in the box leaving referee Robert Smith with no choice to point to the spot.

Murakami showed nerves of steel as he stood up to take the penalty but he nearly made a huge mess from the spot as he only managed to kiss the back of the net on the rebound after Khuzwayo stopped his initial attempt.

After restart, Stars did not waste time to attack as captain Stanley Kgatla tested Khuzwayo, who had a busy afternoon between the poles for Arrows, with a thunderous 35-metre piledriver in the 49th minute.

Both teams had few notable chances in the closing stages but it was Senamela who had the final say as he lobbed Khuzwayo with an aerial ball to ensure the three points.

The teams:

Platinum Stars (4-4-2): Kapini; Masenya, Mabizela, Mofokeng, Lobo; Msomi, Senamela, Kgatla, Sheppard (Thebekang 75); Murakami (Renteria 64), Botes.

Golden Arrows (4-4-2): Khuzwayo; Zwane, Musonda, Bilankulu, Tom; Manqana, Zothwane, Biyela (Mabuya), Khuboni; Gabuza, R Henyekane (Mashego 65).