Mamelodi Sundowns extended their winning run to 13 matches in the DStv Premiership on Tuesday night, with a 2-1 victory over TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium.
Job Done in Mbombela ✅ On to the next one!
TS Galaxy (90+6′ Traore) 1️⃣➖2️⃣ Mamelodi Sundowns (11′ De Reuck, 65′ Shalulile)Sundowns DownsLive DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/UCJdWBIqSQ
— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) January 24, 2023
Grant Kekana, Peter Shalulile and Themba Zwane, who captained the side, were the only players to remain in the line-up from the side that beat Kaizer Chiefs.
Sundowns opened the scoring on 11 minutes, with Rushine De Reuck powering home a bullet header from Gaston Sirino’s corner. De Reuck was later stretchered off after a collision when nodding the ball into the back of the net.
The visitors threatened again shortly after the half-hour mark but Sirino 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 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 it 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.
