Second half goals from Mosa Lebusa, Peter Shalulile and Thabiso Kutumela saw The Brazilians secured their third league win of the season with a 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening.
The win over The Rockets sees Masandawana solidify their number one position in the DStv Premiership log.
Attacker Themba Zwane struck early in the opening minutes of the encounter with his shot missing the target. With the game heating up, Downs forward Gaston Sirino was pulled down by his opponents and what seemed like a penalty opportunity for the hosts was denied by the referee.
Galaxy saw an opportunity to take the lead in the game ruled out when one of their players was adjudged to have fouled Denis Onyango in the build up and the goal was ruled out by the referee.
The Brazilians were the dominant side from the off and created chances in the game, Kermit Erasmus’ efforts of getting an early goal were not successful, however the striker kept the defenders on their toes with shots from every angle.
Bafana Ba Style attackers Zwane, Sirino, Erasmus and Shalulile produced further attempts towards the end of the first half but couldn’t find a way through. Galaxy’s goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak denied Kermit Erasmus’ last-minute shot before the half time break.
It was the hosts who dominated the first 45 minutes, creating a number of half-chances that Themba Zwane and Kermit Erasmus couldn’t find the target from.
Masandawana continued to control the momentum and looked to be changing the game with an early attempt at goal by the fast paced Lakay with a powered shot towards the goalie, however unfortunate.
Producing a performance that displayed pace, intensity and class, Masandawna took a deserved lead in the second half as Mosa Lebusa opened the scoring in the second half after Lyle Lakay’s brilliant free kick slipped out of the keeper’s hands, giving Lebusa the perfect opportunity after the follow up on the shot to score his first league of the season. This was Lebusa’s first game after his return from an injury.
The warning signs were there for the visitors, with the likes of Zwane and Erasmus slicing through the midfield of Galaxy.
Few minutes later, Peter Shalulile extended his goal scoring tally after a defensive error by the visitors, making it two goals in four league appearances for the Namibian international.
Galaxy’s Lindokuhle Mbatha’s break forward resulted in a first shot on target for the evening, but Downs’ stopper Onyango saved comfortably from the Rockets’ attempt of getting back into the game. Denis ensured he kept hold of his clean sheet when he saved well The Rockets last minute attempts.
Shortly after feeling the pressure from their opponents, substitute Kutumela hammered over a great chance after making his way onto the field together with Haashim Domingo with a brilliant pass to set up Kutumela for his first league game in his new home.
Sundowns remained in control for the remainder of the match, sending out a statement to the rest of the league.
This is how we lined up: D. Onyango, L. Lakay (82′ Mkhulise), R. De Reuck, R. Coetzee (68′ Domingo), G. Kekana, . Lebusa, A. Jali (82′ Modiba), T. Zwane, G. Sirino (68′ Kutumela), K. Erasmus (68′ Vilakazi), P. Shalulile.
Subs: R. Pieterse, S. Mkhulise, H. Domingo, B. Onyango, T. Kutumela, A. Modiba, N. Maema, P. Safranko, S. Vilakazi.
Let me congratulate my team and the Wisemen for the good job they’ve done thus far.
Today I want to give credit where its due to our young Motsepe(Chairman)together with Mrs Rejoice Simelane our vice Chairman, guys our club are in good hands from those two and not forgetting the entire Management.To our new Chairman I think the guy is more shrewd and ambitious than his father, yesterday I read his column on our digital magazine where he says there are more sponsors that are coming before end of the season and some good things that are on pipeline.Lastly thanks for solving a small feud between our co coaches,Kby forever
Good evening masandawana, I’m happy to see my beloved team win, first half was a bit difficult but second half we out top class, to our coaches thanks to job well done and im sure you will continue doing good job
Thanks for a great victory.Good second half performance and i think next time we must play on the front foot from the first whistle because we make teams believe they got an equal opportunity of winning a game as us when we don’t show hunger from the first whistle.Erasmus and Sirino should not play at the same time because they are more or less the same,we lack bite or zeal factor when they play together.Very much impressed with the spot on substitutions made in the past two games they produced a goal in both games,bravo to the technical team.I stand to be corrected,i think we are the only team with zero goals conceded in the entire world.It is a great honor to be associated with this great team.I really love what i saw after the game,unity among the players who were playing,those who were substituted and those who didn’t get a chance to play.I saw one united family.
Congratulations to Mamelodi Sundowns. Things are coming together nicely. I want to say a shout~out to diski boys… And to the Sundowns ladies team. We are a team and we are a family. It’s just great all round. Our young chairman looks very keen which is good to see. Tough game against TS… all the players did a job on the day. Jali was a beast as usual. But honestly all the players put in a shift