TS Galaxy stunned Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Wednesday evening.
t was a cagey start to the affair with both sides sizing each other up. Sundowns began to take control of the match and in the 17th minute Neo Maema took the ball out of his feet well and shot narrowly wide of the target.
The game suddenly opened up on the half-hour mark when shortly after Sundowns’ Arthur Zwane long-range effort was palmed away by Melusi Buthelezi, Galaxy went up the other side of the field and took the lead.
The Brazilians were slightly exposed on the counter and Lindokuhle Mbatha teed up Bathusi Aubaas, whose shot which should have been a routine save for Ronwen Williams but the Bafana Bafana captain and new signing spilled it into the path of Lifa Hlongwane, who had a simple tap-in from close range.
Sundowns co-coach Rulani Mokwena after the 1-0 loss to TS Galaxy. #PrimeSportsWithMahlatse pic.twitter.com/PxDHwlWT5J
— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 10, 2022
Talented Galaxy youngster Aphelele Teto then played a delightful reverse diagonal to release Sibusiso Vilakazi, who almost came back to haunt his former side but was denied by Williams, who had done well to come out and close down the angle.
Sundowns were much better in the second half. First, Haashim Domingo struck powerfully wide from 25 yards out and then Aubrey Modiba went past his marker down the left-hand side before whipping in a pinpoint delivery that Thabiso Kutumela could only head wide when he should have scored.
Maema came to life on the hour mark, linking up well with Zwane and setting up Domingo, who shot low but it was straight at Buthelezi. New signings Abubaker Nasir came on with 25 minutes to go and set up Shalulile, whose acrobatic bicycle kick was crucially blocked.
HT
— FARPost_ZA (@FARPostZA) August 10, 2022
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Sundowns 0-1 TS Galaxy
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#FARPost #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/wngzdZsLJU
With ten minutes to go, lovely skill from Sipho Mbule drew a freekick off Mlungisi Mbunjana. Modiba stepped up and although the angle was tight came ever so close to equalising.
A plucky Rockets outfit would hold on till the final whistle and claim a massive confidence boost, while Sundowns fall to a shock defeat.
