TS Galaxy extended their unbeaten run in the DStv Premiership in style when they hammered Richards Bay 4-0 at the Mbombela Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The emphatic victory saw the Rockets climb up to the seventh spot on the league standings and they are set to square off with Maritzburg United on April 2 after the upcoming international Fifa break.
On the other hand, the Natal Rich Boys remained sixth on the standings after recording their fifth successive league defeat and they are scheduled to lock horns with Orlando Pirates on April 1.
The Natal Rich Boys were the better side in the opening exchanges with Luvuyo Memela missing a sitter in the 16th minute and Somila Ntsundwana’s powerful shot was saved by goalkeeper Vasilije Kolak two minutes later.
Kolak’s wonderful save served as a wake-up call for Galaxy who broke the deadlock in the 24th minute when Sphiwe Mahlangu’s curling shot beat keeper Neil Boshoff at the far-post to hand the hosts a 1-0 lead.
The goal rattled Richards Bay’s defence and the home side doubled their lead in the 26th minute with Mahlangu setting up Orebotse Mongae who netted with a rasping shot and Galaxy were leading 2-0 during the halftime break.
The Rockets did not sit back and defend their two-goal lead after the restart as they continued to attack which saw Traore make it 3-0 to Galaxy in the 54th minute after showing great composure in the Natal Rich Boys’ box.
Richards Bay’s technical team responded by introducing Ovella Ochieng as the visitors looked to pull one back and the Kenya international had a chance to score in the 73rd minute, but he was denied by a well-positioned Kolak.
The visitors were attacking in numbers in the closing stages of the game and they were left vulnerable at the back which saw Nkosikhona set-up Mongae who grabbed his brace with a left-footed strike to seal Galaxy’s 4-0 victory.