There was a lively tempo in the opening exchanges in the first half, although chances were hard to come by for both sides in the opening 15 minutes.

Chiefs should have opened the scoring after 20 minutes as Gustavo Paez teed up George Maluleka, who fired wide from 12-yards out.

Stars, meanwhile, were quite content to sit back and soak up the pressure as they looked to attack Chiefs on the counter attack.

Maluleka went close to bagging the opener after 37 minutes but the midfielder's curling effort sailed inches over the crossbar.

The sides went into the halftime level at 0-0, with Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune untested.

Stars coach Luc Eymael opted for a change 10 minutes into the second half, as former Chiefs striker Siphelele Mthembu was introduced for Jarred Abrahams.

Stars broke the deadlock in the 65th minute, as Nhlanhla Vilakazi found the back of the net with a deflected effort from around 25-yards out that left Khune with no chance.

Two minutes later, Chiefs were level as Willard Katsande teed up Bernard Parker, who rifled the ball home from 12-yards out.

Steve Komphela threw on Bhongolwethu Jayiya for the final 20 minutes, as Chiefs continued to search for a winning goal.

The home side dominated possession in the closing stages of the second half and were camped in the Stars half.

Chiefs went agonisingly close to stealing a win in stoppage time, but Joseph Molangoane hit the upright from 12-yards out as the score remained 1-1.

Here's how they started:

Chiefs: 16. Khune, 4. Cardoso, 20. Hadebe, 30. Ngezana, 21. Zulu (Jayiya 70'), 13. Katsande, 12. Maluleka, 14. Tshabalala, 23. Molangoane, 9. Páez (Zuma 60'), 25. Parker.