Mamelodi Sundowns defeated TS Galaxy 2-1 to extend their winning run to 13 matches in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday night.
DStv Premiership
Result: TS Galaxy 1-2 Mamelodi Sundowns
Date: 24 January 2022
Venue: Mbombela Stadium
Sundowns made wholesale changes to the side that beat Kaizer Chiefs, as only Grant Kekana, Peter Shalulile and Themba Zwane, who captained the side, remained in the line-up.
Rulani Mokwena's charges threatened from the off and got the opening goal on 11 minutes, with Rushine De Reuck powering home a bullet header from Gaston Sirino's corner.
However, hat would be De Reuck's final involvement he was stretchered off after collision when nodding the ball into the back of the net. Brian Onyango was brought on as the replacement.
The visitors did not drop the level of their intensity with a high press and Sirino should have doubled their lead shortly after the half-hour mark but lost his footing as he scuffed his shot narrowly wide with only substitute goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak to beat.
The Rockets had a better resistance towards the interval and were able to combine going forward, as Sphiwe Mahlangu nearly equalised on the stroke of halftime with a backheel that missed the bottom corner by inches.
Sundowns had a bright start in the second stanza as Sirino missed a golden chance at the near post after he was teed up by Thapelo Morena with a low cross.
The Brazilians kept on coming with a good spell of attacking football and Shalulile eventually gave got the two-goal cushion on 64 minutes with a tap-in and scored his eighth league goal, at the top of the charts, after Pogiso Sanoka fluffed a clearance from Sirino's cut-back.
Sirino should have put daylight between Sundowns and the Rockets four minutes later after a low cross by Morena found him unmarked in the box but he mishit the ball completely.
The Uruguayan was replaced immediately thereafter with the fresh legs of Bradley Ralani and with 15 minutes left, while Bongani Zungu was also given a run in place of Sipho Mbule.
Galaxy threatened in the dying minutes as Djakaridja Traore scored a consolation goal in stoppage time from the penalty spot after Denis Onyango brought down Orebotse Mongae in the box but was too little too late, as Sundowns held on for the win.
Sundowns extended their record winning run to 13 matches in the league and pulled 19 points clear at the top of the log.
TS Galaxy: 38. Buthelezi, 23. Munyai, 5. Msimango, 3. Sanoka, 11. Nyama, 8. Mbunjana, 17. Parker, 10. Hlongwane, 14. Radebe, 10. Hlongwane, 9. Traore, 27. S.Mahlangu.
Subs: 32. Kolak, 30. Mere, 28. Phohlongo, 20. Mlambo, 4. M.Mahlangu, 45. Seema, 7. Mongae, 18. Daya, 49. Sebelebele
Mamelodi Sundowns: 14. D.Onyango, 27. Morena, 20. Kekana, 3. De Reuck, 37. Ngobeni, 15. Jali, 24. Mbule, 21. Mkhulise, 10. Sirino, 18. Zwane, 38. Shalulile.
Subs: 30. Pieterse, 6. B.Onyango, 5. Lebusa, 26. Saavedra, 22. Kapinga, 45. Karelse, 29. Ralani, 8. Zungu, 35. Maema.
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