TS Galaxy stunned Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday. Photo: @Masandawana/Twitter
TS Galaxy stun defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns!
TS Galaxy stunned defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in a league encounter which was played at Loftus Versveld Stadium on Wednesday.
TS Galaxy stunned Mamelodi Sundowns in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday. Photo: @Masandawana/Twitter
TS Galaxy stunned defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in a league encounter which was played at Loftus Versveld Stadium on Wednesday.
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Lefa Hlongwane scored the only goal of the game in the first half to hand the Rockets their first three points of the season.
Sundowns went into this encounter on the back of a 2-0 win over Cape Town City, and they had hoped to make it two wins in a row.
The Tshwane giants took the game to TS Galaxy very early into the first half in a 3-5-2 formation with Peter Shalulile and Thabiso Kutumela leading the attack.
TS Galaxy put their trust on former Sundowns attacker Sibusiso Vilakazi and Aphelele Teto for goals with Hlongwane behind them from the deep.
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After showing resilience in the first 30 minutes, TS Galaxy broke on a counter with Lindokuhle Mbatha instrumental in the build-up.
Bathusi Aubaas found himself with acres of space from outside the box in the 33rd minute as he unleashed a rocket that Ronwen Williams struggled to deal with.
And Hlongwane was well-placed to finish the rebound with his weaker foot to make give TS Galaxy the lead, much to the delight of a section of their fans out in the stands.
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Sundowns didn’t lose their identity after conceding, and they were often guilty of misplacing their passes, especially outside the TS Galaxy box.
The second half saw Sundowns take the game with so much pace and bombarded the TS Galaxy penalty box but they still couldn’t get past their defence.
Sundowns made five changes midway through the second half, with Andile Jali, Gaston Sirino, Lesedi Kapinga, Sipho Mbule and Abubeker Nassir all coming on.
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And while Sundowns continued to threaten, they appeared to be slowly losing the momentum with Mbule losing possession easily in midfield.
Nassir showed glimpses of what he’s capable of as he used his quick feet to eliminate a number of TS Galaxy defenders.
However, the TS Galaxy defence remained resolute and unshaken as they defending with everything they have to see off the game.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS VS GALAXY: STARTING LINEUPS
Mamelodi Sundowns XI: Williams, Modiba, Mudau, Onyango, De Reuck, Mokoena, Domingo, Maema, Zwane, Kutumela, Shalulile.
Subs: D. Onyango, Morena, Lebusa, Mbule, Kapinga, Jali, Nasir, Lakay, Sirino.
TS Galaxy XI: Buthelezi, Seedat, Sanoka, Msimango, Munyai, Mbatha, Hlongwane, Aubaas, Vilakazi, Mbunjana, Teto.
Subs: Kolak, Mere, Mahlangu, Phohlongo, Nyama, Mongae, Mlambo, Mahlangu, Sebelebele.
