Mamelodi Sundowns secured their ninth away win of the season in the DStv Premiership after defeating TS Galaxy 1-0 at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The win took Masandawana to 57 points on the table, extending the gap over the chasing pack with four games to go in the league. After more than a month of back-to-back action, the technical team were able to make a number of changes to the starting XI that took on Maritzburg United, with Promise Mkhuma, Khuliso Mudau and Kennedy Mweene coming into the side.
The game started as a slow burner, with Downs passing their way in and around the Galaxy half. It took more than fifteen minutes to create the first clear opportunity but patience paid off as Peter Shalulile headed home from close range to give The Brazilians the lead.
The action began to heat up after the opener and Lebohang Maboe had a chance from a corner kick but saw his effort go over. The home side were offered a way back into the tie when Mosa Lebusa was adjudged to have handled in the area. Playing in his first game this year veteran goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene passed the test as he saved Mbatha’s spot kick. Shalulile has an opportunity just before half-time to double his tally but his header narrowly missed the post, as a result the two sides went into the break with Masandawana leading by their solitary goal.
The second half started as the first ended, with Bafana baStyle in the ascendancy and looking the more threatening. Full back Khuliso Mudau was proving to be a threat down the right as he provided width and supplied crosses into the box, with his most dangerous ball in being met by Gift Motupa who hit the side netting.
Chances were few and far between as the home side remained resilient at the back and did not trouble Mweene or the Sundowns back line. With the clock ticking down, Maboe and Mudau both had chances to wrap up the tie but could not get their efforts on target.
Ultimately, The Brazilians got the job one winning by a solitary goal to make it three wins out of three in the month of May. Andile Jali picked up the man of the match award for his fine display in the middle of the park. The team will now travel home to recover and recuperate before gearing up for continental action next weekend against Al Ahly SC.
How we lined up:
Starting XI: Mweene, Nascimento, Lebusa, Coetzee, Mudau, Modiba (74’ Lakay), Jali (87’ B. Onyango) , Maboe, Mkhuma (87’ Mvala), Shalulile, Motupa (74’ Sirino)
Subs: Goss, Affonso, Sirino, B. Onyango, Lakay, Morena, Domingo, Vilakazi, Mvala
Thanks Dawana we won and I don’t see aMaZulu beating Pirates even Baroka can surprised them mark my words,this trophy is on its way to Chloorkop even the haters knows about that even though they don’t to admit and I have a big problem with Soweto teams they hate Downs to the core and its not our fault that they’re struggling, really in life its not good to wish someone to loose but envy what’s he’s/she’s doing alright just ask him what’s makes him/her to succeed, Motsepe is a shrewd businessman let them humble themselves and copy him because even next season Downs will keep on flourishing.
Good 3 points and the 3 points against Supersport will be priceless because no other team will reach 60 points never.Please let’s win our next league and start preparing for next season by playing more young players in our last three games because some of the regular players are ageing and will never give us the same performance next season.We want to set records that no team will be able to break it in our life time.We are a big team because of our success not a famous team because of supporters who are even struggling to win a league 3 times in a row.God loves our team and He always blesses us with the owners who are too ambitious,we,just have to utilize all the resources effectively and efficiently.
What a scrapy football. I still wonder why kekana is not playing. Are our coaches on a mission to destroy him after so much he has done for this club.