Peter Shalulile of Mamelodi Sundowns is denied by TS Galaxy goalkeeper Ira Tape during their Betway Premiership clash on Tuesday night at Mbombela Stadium. Photo: BackpagePix
TS GALAXY (1) 1
Sebelebele 45
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 0
Oh, the fickle nature of football at the elite level!
One moment you are on the ultimate high having just smashed your ultimate rivals for four, and then within the blink of an eye, you are experiencing the low of defeat to a team you usually beat with ease. Sundowns endured this roller-coaster within three days as their seeming march to an eighth successive title got rudely interrupted at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
Scintillating in their 4-1 demolition of title challengers Orlando Pirates at the weekend, Sundowns made the trip to TS Galaxy huge favourites for the three points, given they had won six of their previous eight league meetings with the Rockets.
However, they came unstuck on a night when nothing seemed to go their way, as every attempt at goal failed—Galaxy either foiling them or the Brazilians' finishing letting them down.
Sure, the story will be that Sundowns lost. They are the country's top side by the proverbial mile, and following the weekend's result, one cannot help but see the outcome that way. Yet, there is the fact that Galaxy are on an incredible stratosphere under Adnan Beganovic since he took over from Sead Ramovic as the head coach.
This was the Rockets' eleventh match under his charge, and they have not lost yet. It is a remarkable record that cannot be overlooked. For them to bring the champions down to earth, as they did last night, is one of the best stories of the season.
Kamogelo Sebelebele scored the only goal of the tie at the stroke of half-time, and what transpired in the second half was nothing short of miraculous.
Sundowns were on a ten-match winning streak with Miguel Cardoso yet to lose in the league, but Galaxy changed all that with a showing so compellingly brave and solid, they inflicted the Brazilians’ second defeat of the current campaign.
The delight of the crowd and everyone associated with Galaxy was understandably ecstatic at the final whistle, as the players danced to chants from their followers. The half-time scoreline would have had many taking a second glance, but it was 1-0 to Galaxy alright, and they will do so again after the final score.
The Rockets blasted ahead of the titleholders and current league leaders via Kamogelo Sebelebele, who had actually given a warning sign of the goal he scored just before half-time. As early as the third minute, he was cutting inside from the left, and the Sundowns defence inexplicably allowed him a shot that went inches wide of Ronwen Williams' goal.
When he scored, Sebelebele was again in a tight space when he latched onto a pass from Dzenan Zajmovic, going to the outside this time around. He controlled the ball with his right, pushed it with his left, and then side-footed it with his right through Williams' legs for the opener that sent the home crowd into raptures and had coach Adnan Beganovic celebrating wildly.
It was a lead that many would say was against the run of play, with Sundowns having shaded possession, although the clear chances were even at two apiece.
Just before the half-hour mark, Lucas Ribeiro Costa watched in disbelief as his curled low shot from just inside the box rattled the root of the upright with the goalkeeper beaten. Tashreeq Matthews had teed him up brilliantly after Aubrey Modiba had done well on the left to deliver a cross in for the former.
Shortly thereafter, Galaxy forced Williams into a good save from a free kick by Samukele Kabini just outside the box, the skipper tipping the dipping shot over for a corner. Sundowns then came close themselves via Teboho Mokoena, but his shot from inside the box got deflected and went against the side netting, with Matthews again having laid on the tee.
Mokoena came close again in the 56th minute with a sweetly struck free kick that was on target, only for Tape Ira to palm it away. Try as they might to get the equaliser, Sundowns just could not find their way, and at the end, they had to leave Mbombela empty-handed.
Galaxy moved up to fourth place with 25 points from 17 matches, while Sundowns remained at the top, but the three points dropped will give Pirates some hope.