Miguel Cardoso finds excuse after Mamelodi Sundowns' shock defeat - 'It's our fourth match in 72 hours' as Adnan Beganovic is delighted by TS Galaxy win - 'They have so many great players but we beat them'

TS Galaxy shocked Mamelodi Sundowns with a 1-0 win in an intense PSL clash at the Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday night, courtesy of a goal from Kamogelo Sebelele.

Downs mentor Miguel Cardoso believes that his side deserved a win on the night, meanwhile, Bosnian Adnan Beganovic could not believe the Rockets outclassed the star-studded Sundowns.

"Sorry I didn't see Galaxy dominant, we were dominant all game, TS Galaxy defended all game, obviously we didn't have the energy that we needed, it's our fourth match in 72 hours," Cardoso told SuperSport TV.

"And we were penalized because of that. We had better chances, we should have scored but we were penalized with the goal in the last minutes of the first-half and we had no energy for the second one. You need to ask their coach but it's normal that the team that is defending wants to keep the threat in the front so that we don't go full energy in attack.

"I think we coped with their offence, we knew we had to risk, we took chances, we put pressure, we thought it could help, we changed the strategy in terms of system but they defended very well. We have to congratulate them also for the effort they did defensively," he added.

"The lesson is to continue to look forward and continue to work, I've always said it will be a long championship, not once have you heard me say something different than that. So my position today is exactly the same, we will rise from today and for sure we will come back even stronger."

"The feeling is beautiful, winning against Sundowns, you can't say every day you've won against Sundowns, so many good players. But I'm so proud of my team, how we played tactically and how we played games in February, how we look physically. I'm so proud, all credit to the players," Beganovic said on SuperSport TV.

"We need to enjoy ourselves because what we did in the last three months is unbelievable. I'm so happy, I don't know what to say. When I took the team sitting at the bottom with two points, from the beginning I believed in this team, I believed in this group of players.

"I talked every day with these players, I held meetings, we analysed everything, we prepared ourselves for every game. I believed we could reach the top eight but what we did up to now is unbelievable," he added.

"We tried to score the second goal, because I know it's tough to defend the whole 45 minutes but I know we needed a player who can run behind the last line, quick players on the sides. Yes, I tried, I put everything we had and I'm so happy how everybody played tonight and I believe TS Galaxy tonight have every reason to celebrate."

A defeat for Masandawana in Mpumalanga prevented them from establishing a 12-point lead over second-placed Orlando Pirates in the PSL standings. 

Downs are ahead of Jose Riveiro's Buccaneers by nine points, who have played two matches fewer than the PSL reigning champions.

Conversely, Galaxy, who have now remained unbeaten for 12 matches, winning seven and drawing five in all competitions under Beganovic, climbed to fourth position in the table.

Sundowns and Galaxy will now have to quickly forget about today's outcome and turn their attention to the Nedbank Cup Round of 16 action.

The Rockets will visit red-hot Durban City at the Chatsworth Stadium this coming Friday. On the other hand, Downs will welcome Mpheni Home Defenders at the Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday, February 16.