Mamelodi Sundowns exact their revenge on TS Galaxy

MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (2) 4

Shalulile 1’ Rayners 7’, 47’ Adams 37’

TS GALAXY (1) 1

Mahlangu 10’

Matshelane Mamabolo

MAMELODI Sundowns got their revenge on TS Galaxy with a resounding 4-1 victory on Saturday.

The steam from their shock 1-0 defeat by the Rockets last Tuesday was yet to dissipate as the record South African elite league champions got even at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

And they did that with a victory so emphatic an uninformed observer would have found it hard to believe they were beaten by the same team just the other day.

Iqraam Rayners made it rain goals with a brace that was tucked in between strikes by Peter Shalulile – who should have treated himself to a hat-trick – and Jayden Adams against a Galaxy side that played most of the tie with 10 men after Victor Letsoalo was sent off before the break.

The Namibian superstar scored with the game barely a minute old, on 57 seconds, Shalulile edging ever so close to that Premiership record held by Siyabonga Nomvethe with a simple tap in.

Lucas Ribeiro delivered a cross which Galaxy defender Samukelo Dlamini headed backwards to Rayners, who set up his fellow striker for one of the easiest goals he’ll ever score.

It was 2-0 six minutes later as Rayners helped himself to a goal from inside the box to give rise to hopes of a slaughter as the champions looked to restore their 12-point lead atop the table.

Galaxy pulled one back within two minutes, Siphiwe Mahlangu doing well to round off the advanced Jody February after receiving a sublime through ball from Letsoalo.

Hero turned villain

No sooner had the latter helped get his team back into the game than he was turning villain with a stinging tackle from behind on Bathusi Aubaas. Referee Abongile Tom sent him off.

Sundowns capitalised on their numerical advantage and got their two-goal lead back shortly before the break as Adams got his name onto the score sheet with a powerful shot after Shalulile’s attempt had been blocked.

Two minutes after the break, Rayners was completing his brace with a shot from an awkward angle on the left side of the box, the striker meeting a fantastic low cross delivered by Thapelo Morena from the opposite side of the field.

Shalulile will look back at this match and rue the fact he did not score more.

He missed a sitter in first-half added time when he incredulously headed the ball over from close range with the goalkeeper in no man’s land.

Then in the second half, the Namibian delivered a spectacular bicycle kick to connect a splendid delivery from Ribeiro but the ball missed the target.

Not that anyone associated with Sundowns was complaining as Shalulile edged ever so close to becoming the highest scorer in the Premiership since its formation in 1996.

Not while the Brazilians’ chances of winning an eighth successive league title are getting all the more brighter.

In dishing out this revenge on Galaxy, the Brazilians moved to 48 points after 18 matches – 12 more than Pirates who have three games in hand.