Mamelodi Sundowns restored their 12-point lead at the top of the Betway Premiership with a 4-1 thrashing of ten-man TS Galaxy on Saturday evening.
Betway Premiership
Result: Mamelodi Sundowns 4-1 TS Galaxy
Date: 22 February 2025
Venue: Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium
Goalkeeper Jody February earned his first start of the league season for Sundowns as Denis Onyango missed out through suspension, while Ronwen Williams remains out injured.
Sundowns got off to the perfect start when a lofted ball into the box found Iqraam Rayners, who fired the ball into the path of Peter Shalulile to fire home from point-blank range.
The home side doubled their lead seven minutes later as Marcelo Allende played a ball into Rayners, who turned his marker in the box and firing home his eighth league goal of the season.
The opening ten minutes ended with Galaxy also pulling a goal back as Sphiwe Prince Mahlangu raced clear on goal from a through-ball before rounding February and slotting into an empty net.
Sundowns continued to dominate thereafter but Galaxy's task was made even tougher after 25 minutes when striker Victor Letsoalo was shown a straight red card for studs-up challenge on Bathusi Aubaas, who was unable to continue and replaced by Teboho Mokoena.
The hosts were able to grab a third goal eight minutes before the interval, as Jayden Adams bagged his third goal of the campaign with a powerful finish in the box after Shalulile's initial strike was.
Sundowns carried the momentum into the second period and bagged a fourth goal three minutes after the restart, with Rayners completing his brace after being set up by Thapelo Morena's good pass.
With another came coming on Wednesday, Cardoso opted to refresh the team for the final 30 minutes as Arthur Sales, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Kobamlo Kodisang replaced Lucas Ribeiro, Allende and Rayners.
The rest of the encounter was played at a slow tempo as the league leaders saw out the remaining stages with relative ease as the four goals were enough to seal maximum points on the day.
The win sees Sundowns restore their 12-point lead over Orlando Pirates ahead of their next league encounter against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday,
Here's how they lined up:
Mamelodi Sundowns: 36. February, 42. Khoza, 32. Suarez, 27. Morena, 31. Tiwani, 19. Aubaas, 11. Allende, 44. Adams, 10. Ribeiro, 13. Rayners, 38. Shalulile
Subs: Tshabalala, 5. Lebusa, 6. Modiba, 4. Mokoena, 21. Mkhulise, 19. Kodisang, 46. Letlhaku, 33. Maseko, 9. Sales
TS Galaxy: 16. Ira, 23. Munyai, 5. Kabini, 25. Ndamane, 7. Sibande, 2. Mvelase, 28, Mgaga, 21. Sebelebele, 17. Letsoalo, 11. Mahlangu, 9. Zajmovic.
Subs: 16. Ciupa, 10. Maduna, 45. Seema, 8. Mbunjana, 15. Dithejane, 40. Dolly, 3. Letsoenyo, 19. Sibanyoni
