After the sting of defeat against TS Galaxy earlier this month, Mamelodi Sundowns came back with vengeance and delivered sweet revenge against the Rockets at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday.
Sundowns cruised to a 4-1 victory over TS Galaxy, restoring their 12-point lead over Orlando Pirates. Barely a fortnight ago, the two sides clashed with Adnan Beganovic’s troops producing their most impressive performance with a shock 1-0 win over the defending champions.
However, as the battle lines were redrawn this past weekend, the home side was determined to set the record straight, delivering an emphatic performance that was effectively sealed by the 48th minute.
Goals from Peter Shalulile, Iqraam Rayners, and Jayden Adams cancelled out Sphiwe Mahlangu’s tenth-minute strike, giving the home side a commanding 3-1 lead at half-time. Rayners put the final nail in the coffin with his ninth goal of the season just three minutes into the second half.
Speaking after the match, coach Miguel Cardoso expressed his satisfaction with how his players managed the game after their fast start.
“We started the game very well and immediately saw the results of understanding how to play against them after our match last week," Cardoso said.
“We knew what kind of game we had to play, but we also knew that TS Galaxy has a tricky style. Sometimes you feel like you're in control, but they can find spaces to penetrate your defense.
“That’s how they scored their goal, but it was important for us to manage our emotions and stick to the plan.”
Jayden Adams has settled in seamlessly at Sundowns, with the 23-year-old already marking his arrival by scoring his second goal since making the switch from Stellenbosch FC.
Cardoso was full of praise for the midfielder’s creativity and believes he will be a crucial player for the remainder of the season.
“The role of a coach is to build connections between players. A coach must create an organized system where each player can express themselves. He should also understand where each player should be positioned and what is required to bring out their best on the pitch.
“We have many quality players, and Jayden is one of them. He is happy here, and that has helped him settle in quickly. He is a very intelligent player, capable of reading the game well and making the right decisions.
“He knows how to play the ball into the right spaces and adapt to different phases of the game. Our focus is on bringing everyone together to improve our overall performance, because when you play better, you win more, and consistent success in a championship leads to achieving your goals.”