TS Galaxy stun Sundowns 2–0 as Brazilians’ Nedbank Cup drought drags on

Mamelodi Sundowns’ domestic cup drought continues unabated. The Brazilians, who have been unstoppable in the league over the past eight seasons, were dumped out of the Nedbank Cup by thirsty TS Galaxy in Kwa-Ndelele on Saturday afternoon. Sundowns have not laid their hands on a domestic cup trophy since 2022 and this is not going to go down well with their hard-to-please supporters who have been vocal recently.

TS Galaxy got out of the blocks the quickest with early goals from Sphamandla Ngwenya and Junior Zindoga inside the half-hour mark as they went on to prevail 2-0 and book a place in the quarterfinal stage. TS Galaxy will be in the pot for the draw and still in with a chance of winning this tournament for the second time but Sundowns were made to pay a heavy price for the wholesale changes by coach Miguel Cardoso. Cardoso went into this match with an almost new line-up where only midfielder Nuno Santos as the only player who started in the impressive league win over Pirates on Wednesday at FNB Stadium.

Kegan Johannes, Divine Lunga and Marcelo Allende who came on as substitutes against Pirates, were named in the starting line-up as Cardoso managed workloads of key players. Sundowns have a heavy schedule over the coming weeks because of their participation in the Champions League and this continuous chopping and changing of the team is going to affect them negatively. Some of the notable players who got opportunities were veteran goalkeeper Denis Onyango, Malibongewe Khoza, Miguel Reisinho, Katlego Ntsabeleng, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Peter Shalulile.

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Regular players such as Ronwen Williams, Khuliso Mudau, Aubrey Modiba, Grant Kekana, Teboho Mokoena, Tashreeq Matthews and Jayden Adams were either on the bench or not even in the match-day squad. These changes affected Sundowns’ chemistry and undid the good work displayed in recent successive wins over MC Alger in the Champions League and against Pirates. On the side of Galaxy, coach Adnan Beganovic went with his tried and tested that included key campaigners like McBeth Mahlangu, Solomon Letsoenyo, Mlungisi Mbunjane, Seluleko Mahlambi, Siphesihle Maduna and Victor Letsoalo.

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