Mamelodi Sundowns went 18 points clear at the DStv Premiership summit after they beat 10-man TS Galaxy 3-0 at the Mbombela Stadium on Wednesday night.
Khuliso Mudau’s first goal of the season gave the Brazilians a 19th minute lead before the Rockets had Lindokuhle Mbatha sent off three minutes later.
Second-half goals from Haashim Domingo and Peter Shalulile sealed a comfortable win for the league leaders, who extended their unbeaten run to four matches.
Meanwhile, Galaxy dropped to 15th place due to Chippa United having a superior goal difference.
It was a controlled performance from Sundowns, who spent the majority of the game in the opposition half.
The visitors looked to make a fast start in Mbombela, but they had to wait until the 19th minute to carve out a clear-cut chance and with it the opener.
Mudau received the ball from Shalulile and lined up a shot from outside the area that flew into the top-right corner of the net.
Galaxy’s evening got worse three minutes later when Mbatha was dismissed for a second bookable offence, having picked up his first yellow card after just three minutes.
The red card pretty much ended any hopes that Sead Ramovic’s side had of getting back into the contest, although they did manage to restrict Downs to just the one goal before halftime.
The defending champions went in search of more goals in the second half and Domingo was just inches away from picking out the left corner of the goal with a strike from range in the 52nd minute.
The Sundowns midfielder drew a save out of Wensten van der Linde with his next attempt on 58 minutes from Lesedi Kapinga’s cutback pass, while Shalulile turned the ball just over the crossbar from Mudau’s low cross on the hour mark.
Debutant Aphelele Teto tested Kennedy Mweene from range in a rare foray up front for the hosts moments later, but Masandawana put the game to bed soon afterwards as Domingo doubled their lead with a fine strike from outside the area that nestled into the top-right corner of the net.
Shalulile would also get in on the act in the 79th minute with his first goal in five league outings. The Namibian was perfectly placed to convert Lunga’s pass at the far post.
The Chloorkop outfit threatened to make it a rout in the closing stages, but substitutes Neo Maema and Sphelele Mkhulise were denied by Van der Linde in quick succession.
TS Galaxy 0
Sundowns (1) 3 (Mudau 19′, Domingo 63′, Shalulile 79′)
TS Galaxy: W. van der Linde, G. Msimango, P. Sanoka, M. Mahlangu, B. Aubaas (S. Nduli 69′), M. Munyai, S. Roberts (S. Mahlangu 46′), E. Brooks (A. Teto 36′), O. Mongae (L. Hlongwane 46′), L. Mbatha, A. Kwem (W. Lekay 83′).
Mamelodi Sundowns: K. Mweene, G. Kekana, R. Coetzee (S. Mkhulise 46′), B. Onyango, K. Mudau (T. Kutumela 69′), T. Mokoena, L. Lakay (D. Lunga 69′), T. Morena, H. Domingo, L. Kapinga (N. Maema 80′), P. Shalulile (K. Erasmus 80′).
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