Supersubs shine as Mamelodi Sundowns stay top with hard-fought win over TS Galaxy

Substitutions, when they work, are almost always described as inspired — the coach lauded for his tactical acumen.

Mamelodi Sundowns won their Betway Premiership clash against TS Galaxy courtesy of the bench, and Miguel Cardoso will rightly bask in the plaudits following a 1-0 victory that keeps his side top of the standings.

On an evening when it seemed goals would not come — despite numerous chances at both ends — it took two substitutes to unlock the game and secure all three points for the Brazilians.

Arthur Sales scored the only goal of the match after coming on at the start of the second half to replace Katlego Ntsabeleng. The assist came from another substitute, Iqraam Rayners, who entered the fray on 54 minutes in place of Peter Shalulile.

What appeared to be an innocuous move from the back ended with the Sundowns faithful erupting in delight. Grant Kekana threaded a low pass to Rayners on the right, and the striker did brilliantly to beat his marker before squaring the ball for Sales, who side-footed home into the far corner past the despairing Ira Tape.

The goal was just reward for the hosts, who would have felt aggrieved had the game ended goalless. Midway through the first half, Shalulile had found the back of the net from close range after Tashreeq Matthews prodded a loose ball into his path following fine work by Khuliso Mudau on the flank. However, the right back was fouled before the ball ricocheted into the box, and rather than allowing the advantage, the officials awarded a free kick to Sundowns — which Aubrey Modiba sent over the bar.

Galaxy also had the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time when Mory Keita headed past Ronwen Williams, but the Guinean had strayed offside. Earlier, Keita had watched in disbelief as Mudau cleared his goal-bound effort off the line inside three minutes.

It really should have rained goals, particularly in the first half. Shalulile volleyed inches wide on five minutes, while Puso Dithejane’s heavy first touch allowed Williams to snuff out danger on 12 minutes.

Marcelo Allende stung Ira’s gloves with a thunderous drive from range on the half-hour mark, before Galaxy wasted a corner opportunity moments later — Williams first palming away the delivery before denying Igor Salatiel Silva from the rebound.

In the end, it took Cardoso’s ‘inspired’ changes for the deadlock to be broken, Sales applying the finishing touch to Rayners’ assist to hand Sundowns victory and move them up to 25 points from 12 matches.