Selulelko Mahlambi of TS Galaxy FC challenged by Luzuko Mdunyelwa of Mamelodi Sundowns during the Betway Premiership match at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
Image: BackpagePix
TS GALAXY (2) (3)
Letsoalo (p) 7', George 18’, Mvelase 46’
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS (2) (2)
Leon 39’, (p) 42’
Orlando Pirates need just a win from their last two games of the season to win the league title – the Betway Premiership – for the first time in 14 years.
This follows Mamelodi Sundowns' 3-2 loss to TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium in their last league game on Tuesday night.
Sundowns remain top of the log with 68 points, three ahead of the second-placed Pirates. The Buccaneers now have a chance to win the title if they beat Durban City at Orlando Stadium on Saturday as they have a superior goal difference compared to Sundowns.
Galaxy, meanwhile, will be delighted with the three points. They’ve saved their status ahead of next season – a crucial achievement for interim coach Bernard Parker.
After beating Siwelele 7-4 in the last game, Sundowns came into this match knowing they could score an avalanche of goals. However, they needed to tighten things at the back, having conceded freely.
Referee Jelly Chavani awarded Galaxy a soft penalty, insisting that Zuko Mdunyelwa impeded Seluleko Mahlambi inside the box, while replays showed minimal contact. Victor Letsoalo took the resultant penalty and sent Ronwen Williams the wrong way.
Galaxy didn’t need Chavani’s help to double their lead as they pierced Sundowns with a counter-attacking move that ended with Seldwyn George creating acres of space for himself at the edge of the box before hitting a hard, low shot past Williams.
That goal stunned most of the Sundowns team, but not Leon. The Colombian used the deficit to inspire the first-half comeback. He initially headed home Nuno Santos’ cross before scoring a penalty after his deft backheel pass struck the arm of Mpho Mvelase.
Straight after the restart, Galaxy punished a sleeping Sundowns defence by exploiting the high line. Siphesihle Maduna was played through before selflessly squaring the ball to an unmarked Mvelase, who rolled it into an empty net.
Miguel Cardoso rang the changes in the second half in search of the equaliser, and a potential winner. But it wasn’t to be – Galaxy held firm to snap a winless run, secure their status, and potentially hand the title to Pirates on a silver platter.