Mamelodi Sundowns found themselves in a difficult position in the race for the Betway Premiership title after suffering a 3-2 defeat to TS Galaxy in a match played at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night.
The result has made the title race even more challenging for Sundowns, while their biggest rivals, Orlando Pirates, now have a strong chance of winning the league title for the first time since 2012.
TS Galaxy started the match brightly, with Victor Letsoalo scoring from the penalty spot in the 7th minute before Sedwyn George added a second goal in the 18th minute. Sundowns responded through Brayan León, who scored twice to level the match before halftime. However, the second half began badly for Sundowns when Mpho Mvelase scored the winning goal for TS Galaxy in the 46th minute.
The defeat leaves Sundowns having completed their league campaign with 68 points, while Orlando Pirates remain on 65 points with two matches still to play and a superior goal difference. This means that if Pirates win their remaining matches, they could officially claim the league title.
After the match, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso blamed the demanding fixture schedule for his team’s drop in form at a crucial stage of the season. Sundowns are also preparing for the CAF Champions League Final against Morocco’s AS FAR, adding even more pressure to the squad.
For TS Galaxy, the victory was extremely important in securing their safety in South Africa’s top division. Interim coach Bernard Parker praised his players for their discipline and effective use of counterattacks against Sundowns’ high defensive line.
