Mosa Lebusa of Mamelodi Sundowns celebrates (Gallo)
Holders Mamelodi Sundowns continue to set the early place in the DStv Premiership after a convincing 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday.
Sundowns made just one change with Mosa Lebusa coming in for Grant Kekana. Karabo Tshepe, Masilake Phohlongo and Tumelo Modibe were introduced into the Galaxy starting lineup.
Sundowns star Themba Zwane had the first clear sight of goal and his shot from the edge of the area missed the post by inches.
Galaxy then had the ball in the back of the net, but the referee signaled for a foul on Downs keeper Denis Onyango.
The Gaston Sirino delivered the free-kick from the right-hand side and Rockets shot-stopper Vasilije Kolak’s punch was straight to Kermit Erasmus, who blazed the volley on his weaker left foot into the stands.
The Rockets threatened when Bathusi Aubaas passed to Phohlongo at the back post and the latter almost returned the favour but Lebusa made a last-ditch intervention at full stretch.
The Brazilians had their best chance of the first half right on the stroke of the interval when Sirino found space down the inside left of the box and curled the ball from a tight angle towards the far corner and it wasn’t far wide.
Three minutes after the interval, Lakay was played in down the left by Erasmus and his stinging drive brought a fine save out of the Galaxy gloveman.
Lindokuhle Mbatha came close for Owen da Gama’s men shortly after the interval when he rifled one towards Downs keeper Onyango’s top left hand corner but the Ugandan international clawed it away.
The Chloorkop outfit were better in the second half and took the lead in the 57th minute when Lebusa fired home from an acute angle in the box into the roof of the net after Kolak spilled Lyle Lakay’s free-kick.
Downs doubled their lead just two minutes later through Peter Shalulile. They countered and Andile Jali played in the Namibian international, who calmly slotted the ball past the onrushing Kolak and into the bottom right corner.
Thabiso Kutumela scored his first goal in a Brazilians shirt when he made sure of the three points in the 84th minute, finishing off a classic Sundowns team move that involved a lot of intricate passes and off-the-ball movement.
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