Mamelodi Sundowns 3-0 TS Galaxy: Shalulile fires warning to Orlando Pirates in Masandawana win

Mamelodi Sundowns maintained their unbeaten start in the PSL when they claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday evening.

Masandawana scored through Mosa Lebusa, Thabiso Kutumela and Peter Shalulile, who made it two goals in as many league games and Orlando Pirates will be wary of him when the Tshwane giants head to Soweto on Saturday. 

The Sundowns technical team which is led by Manqoba Mngqithi and Rhulani Mokwena made just one change to the side which faced and defeated Kaizer Chiefs 2-0 last weekend with Lebusa replacing Thapelo Morena in the starting line-up.

While Masilake Phohlongo, who tends to bring his A-game to big matches as he scored both home and away against Orlando Pirates last season, being recalled to the starting line-up by coach Owen Da Gama with Galaxy keen to record their first win of the season.

Sundowns controlled the match from the first whistle with their wing-backs Lyle Lakay and Grant Kekana making overlapping runs in the flanks - forcing Galaxy to defend too deep and the visitors came close to conceding after their defence backtracked. 

Themba Zwane, who grabbed a goal and an assist against Galaxy last season, had the first clear sight of goal after being set up by Lakay, but his shot from inside the box went inches wide of goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak's right upright.

The Rockets were under pressure with Masandawana constantly launching attacks and Kolak spilled a shot from Gaston Sirino's free-kick and Kermit Erasmus failed to keep his effort on target from the rebound with the Galaxy keeper well beaten. 

Kolak, who hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina, was looking unconvincing between the sticks for the visitors as he spilt a shot from Erasmus and Zwane attempted to set up Shalulile with a backheel pass, but he missed the ball and the score was 0-0 at the interval.

Another half which was dominated by Masandawana followed, but this time they scored twice within the first 13 minutes of the second-half with Lebusa scoring to make it 1-0 Sundowns in the 57th minute after Kolak had parried Lakay's free-kick into his path.

The goal rattled the Rockets, who looked disorganised at the back and they conceded again after Shalulile ran onto a long ball from Andile Jali and beat Kolak to hand Sundowns a 2-0 lead with the visitors' defence at sixes and sevens. 

Lindokuhle Mbatha - a former Sundowns winger - was eager to become a thorn in the side of the hosts as he made two dangerous runs, before forcing keeper Denis Onyango into making two great saves as the visitors looked to pull one back and make it a nervy finish for Masandawana.

The hosts then introduced Haashim Domingo and Kutumela and the duo made an impact on the match as their speed on the ball unsettled a tired-looking Galaxy defence which conceded for the third time with six minutes left on the clock.

Domingo was afforded time and space to play a defence-splitting pass for Kutumela, who fired a low shot past a hapless Kolak to seal Sundowns' well-deserved 3-0 victory which took them to the top of the league standings.

While Galaxy slipped down to the 15th spot on the standings and they will be desperate for a victory when they lock horns with an in-form Royal AM side on Sunday, September 26.