Rockets lose to Sundowns at Loftus

TS Galaxy lost 3-0 to defending DStv Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening.
Masandawana dominated possession from the first minute with most of their attacks coming from the flanks through their full-backs Lyle Lakay and Grant Kekana.
Lakay set-up Zwane, who cut inside before unleashing a powerful low shot which narrowly missed the target in the eighth minute as the hosts searched for an early goal.
Galaxy goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak was called into action in the 19th minute and he spilled a shot from Gaston Sirino’s free-kick and Kermit Erasmus fired over the crossbar from the rebound.
Sundowns continued to dominate the game after the restart and they were rewarded with two quick goals, with Mosa Lebusa scoring from close range in the 57th minute to make it 1-0 to the hosts.
The reigning DStv Premiership champions were 2-0 up a minute later when Peter Shalulile ran on to a long ball from Andile Jali, before beating Kolak to double the home side’s lead.
The Rockets had to push forward and try to pull one back, and they came close to scoring when Lindokuhle Mbatha’s curling shot was superbly saved by keeper Denis Onyango just after the hour-mark.
Mbatha looked the likeliest Galaxy player to score on the night as the former Sundowns winger forced Onyango into another good save at the near-post a few minutes later.
The Sundowns technical team reacted by introducing Thabiso Kutumela and Haashim Domingo, who combined brilliantly to extend Masandawana’s lead with six minutes left on the clock.
Domingo played a through pass for Kutumela and the former Orlando Pirates marksman beat Kolak with a low shot.
Sundowns 3 (Lebusa 57, Shalulile 58′, Kutumela 84′)
Galaxy 0 
Sundowns: D.Onyango, Lebusa, De Reuck, Coetzee (Domingo 68′), Kekana, Lakay (Mkhulise 83′), Jali (Modiba 83′), Zwane,  Sirino (Kutumela 69′), Erasmus, Shalulile (Vilakazi 69′).
Galaxy: Kolak, M. Mahlangu, Makitan, Bodibe, Seedat, Mbunjana, Brooks (S. Mahlangu 77′),  Aubaas, Mbatha, Phohlongo (Mngomezulu 46′), Macuphu (Anas 77′).

our partners