Shalulile brace takes Mamelodi Sundowns close to title
Peter Shalulile scored twice on Monday as Mamelodi Sundowns beat TS Galaxy 3-0 and need just three points from seven matches to clinch a seventh straight South African Premiership title.
The Namibia captain struck after 26 and 35 minutes in Pretoria and substitute Thembinkosi Lorch put the outcome beyond doubt by completing the scoring on 64 minutes.
It was a welcome return to form by Shalulile, who has struggled to find the net lately after finishing joint leading Premiership scorer last season.
Victory stretched Sundowns' unbeaten league run across two seasons to a record-extending 47 matches since losing to Pretoria neighbours SuperSport United in September 2022.
They will be crowned champions of the richest national league in Africa on Thursday if they defeat eighth-placed Kaizer Chiefs in Johannesburg.
Fifth-placed Galaxy had a chance to grab an added-time consolation goal but Bernard Parker, returning to action after breaking his leg last October, had a penalty saved by Ronwen Williams.
A miserable night for the visiting team included the sending off of substitute Orebotse Mongae on 85 minutes for a tackle from behind on Bongani Zungu, who retired injured.
With Zungu unable to continue after Sundowns had made five substitutions, the final minutes became a 10-a-side match at Loftus Versfeld, a stadium Sundowns share with the Bulls rugby team.
Sundowns demonstrated their strength in depth as they made six changes to the side beaten by Esperance of Tunisia in a CAF Champions League semi-final last Friday and still dominated Galaxy.
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