Wits came from behind twice to beat visiting Golden Arrows 3-2 in Johannesburg this weekend and retain a three-point lead after 11 rounds of the South African Premiership.

Record six-time champions Mamelodi Sundowns stayed hot on the heels of the pacesetters with a convincing 3-1 home victory over Free State Stars near Pretoria.

Mpumalanga Black Aces kept third spot, two points behind Sundowns, after winning 2-0 at sixth-place Bloemfontein Celtic.

Defending champions Kaizer Chiefs needed a goal seven minutes into stoppage time to snatch a 1-1 draw at bottom club Maritzburg United.

It was the sixth draw this season for Chiefs, who trail Wits by eight points in the richest African national football championship with a $720,000 (675,000 euros) first prize.

Fifth-place Platinum Stars fell 1-0 at Polokwane City, a second successive defeat after going eight games unbeaten from the start of the season.

Veteran winger Daine Klate rescued Wits at Bidvest Stadium close to central Johannesburg with two goals in two minutes.

Arrows were heading for a shock 2-1 triumph five minutes from time when Namibia goalkeeper Maximilian Mbaeva handled outside his box and received a last-defender red card.

Klate converted the resultant free-kick and beat substitute goalkeeper Ricardo Goss again with a close-range flick off a cross.

Wits coach Gavin Hunt, who guided SuperSport United to a hat-trick of Premiership titles before moving from Pretoria to Johannesburg, was more relieved than joyful when the game ended.

"Every time we play after a FIFA international window my team are sluggish. We got away with it this time, but may not do so next time."

Former SuperSport and Orlando Pirates star Klate shrugged off being voted man of the match after a brace that boosted his season league tally to five, one behind the leaders.

"I was a virtual spectator for about 70 minutes, but never lost my focus. While I enjoyed my free-kick goal, victory was achieved through teamwork."

Sundowns followed up a recent 6-1 cup drubbing of Free State with another comfortable success through goals from Zimbabwean Khama Billiat, Themba Zwane and Hlompho Kekana.

Belgian Andrea Fileccia was on target for Stars and his sixth goal of the season made him joint-leading scorer with Zambian Collins Mbesuma of Aces.

Celtic suffered a second straight home league defeat since returning to a refurbished Dr Petros Molemela Stadium and missed a chance to go third.

Lebogang Manyama put Aces ahead during the first half and Zamuxolo Ngalo doubled the lead two minutes after half-time.

Chiefs trailed to a first-half penalty converted by Kurt Lentjies until substitute Reneilwe Letsholonyane half-volleyed a headed pass beyond Tawfeeq Salie and into the corner of the net.