Some clever tweaks and an injection of youth saw Kaizer Chiefs improve markedly from a midweek setback as coach Giovanni Solinas earned a first win in last night's MTN8 quarterfinal.
Another disappointing home crowd was scattered throughout the gigantic FNB Stadium on a cold night. It was a pity, because Chiefs were a lot better than in Wednesday's 3-1 league defeat to Bidvest Wits.
The opponents, too, were less convincing, as strikes from Dumisani Zuma in the 19th minute, Leonardo Castro in the 48th and Khama Billiat deep into added time in the 103rd separated the teams.
Luc Eymael's 2018-19 Stars have not looked as coherent early this campaign as last season's sixth-placed PSL finishers and Nedbank Cup winners.
Chiefs had Virgil Vries in goal, Itumeleng Khune given leave with girlfriend Sbahle Mpisane in ICU after a car crash.
Solinas recognised the need for youth on his wings. Zuma and Joseph Molangoane came in for 30-somethings Siphiwe Tshabalala and Bernard Parker, and improved Chiefs' mobility upfront.Amakhosi's wingers and front men Billiat and Leonardo Castro pulled Stars out of shape. Ramahlwe Mphahlele was forceful from rightback, providing almost every first-half assist down Stars' left.
From a fine movement across the field, Mphahlele passed inside to find Molangoane, who teed up Zuma for a first-time shot past Sangare. Two Mphahlele crosses saw Zuma and Molangoane force saves from Sangare.
Chiefs' better penetration also allowed deep-lying playmaker Siphelele Ntshangase to get involved in attacks more. Just after the break Ntshangase slipped a neat through-ball down the middle to put Castro into the area to lob past Sangare for Chiefs' second.
A horror challenge, Molangoane sliding into a clearance from Stars' left-back Makhehleni Makhaula, saw the Amakhosi player stretchered off in the 55th minute. It looked like a serious ankle injury.
Parker's introduction, when the quicker, younger Kabelo Mahlasela was also on the bench, was not popular with the crowd.
Finally, though, the killer goal did come from Billiat, a stunning passing build-up from deep culminating in Castro's pass and the Zimbabwean's low finish.
Kaizer Chiefs(1) 3
Free State Stars 0
GOALS: Dumisani Zuma (19m), Leonardo Castro (48m), Khama Billiat (103m)..