Rockets shoot down Brazilians' title hopes

TS Galaxy © Gallo Images

Mamelodi Sundowns ended their Betway Premiership campaign on a disappointing note after suffering a 3-2 defeat against TS Galaxy at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday, May 12.

Early goals from Victor Letsoalo and Sedwyn George saw Bernard Parker's side race into a 2-0 lead before the Brazilians hit back with a quick-fire brace from Bryan Leon ahead of the interval.

But Mpho Mvelase fired the Rockets back in front seconds after the restart and they held on to bring an end to Bafana ba Style's 13-match unbeaten run in the league and put a dent in their title hopes.

Parker was still searching for his first win at the helm since replacing Adnan Beganovic last month, having kicked his tenure in the league with back-to-back 1-1 draws against Marumo Gallants and Chippa United.

Masandawana came into this clash on the back of a record-breaking 7-4 victory over Siwelele on May 9 which maintained their three-point lead over Orlando Pirates at the top of the table.

The visitors almost got off to the perfect start when a defensive lapse put Arthur Sales through on goal in the third minute, but he was unable to beat Ira Tape.

Instead, it was Galaxy who drew first blood four minutes later following poor judgement from Zuko Mdunyelwa, who brought down Seluleko Mahlambi inside the box and Letsoalo slotted home the resulting penalty to put them ahead.

Things went from bad to worse for Miguel Cardoso's side on 18 minutes as they conceded again, with Mahlambi racing away on the counter before teeing up George to open his account for the Rockets.

The Pretoria giants looked to respond and Leon drew a good save out of Tape midway through the first half after getting on the end of Kutlwano Lethlaku's cross from the left.

Sundowns kept probing and they finally pulled one back through the in-form Leon on 38 minutes as he headed home an exquisite cross from Nuno Santos.

The Colombian striker then levelled matters from the spot three minutes later after Mvelase handled inside the area and the two teams went into the break at level pegging once more.

The second half was less than a minute old though, when the Mpumalanga outfit restored their lead courtesy of the veteran Mvelase, who made amends for his handball to score his second goal of the campaign.

Cardoso soon rang the changes, bringing on Tashreeq Matthews, Khulumani Ndamane and Miguel Reisinho, with the latter threatening to equalise on 74 minutes from a shot on the turn that was well saved by Tape.

But the CAF Champions League finalists struggled to create many clear-cut goal-scoring opportunities, although Reisinho squandered the chance to equalise late on when he fired over the crossbar on the volley.

TS Galaxy (2) 3 (Letsoalo 7' PEN, George 18', Mvelase 46')

Mamelodi Sundowns (2) 2 (Leon 38', 41' PEN)

TS Galaxy: I. Tape, S. Xulu (P. Fisher 62'), L. Motaung, V. Zulu, M. Mncwango, S. Maduna (M. Rantoa 88'), M. Mvelase, M. Mbunjana, S. Mahlambi (J. Zindoga 62'), S. George (N. Nkosi 76'), V. Letsoalo.

Mamelodi Sundowns: R. Williams, Z. Mdunyelwa (I. Rayners 76'), K. Johannes, G. Kekana (K. Ndamane 53'), A. Modiba, K. Lethlaku (T. Ntsabeleng 82'), M. Allende (M. Reisinho 54'), T. Mokoena, N. Santos, B. Leon, A. Sales (T. Matthews 53').

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