Sundowns opened the scoring through Bryan León from the penalty spot, but Galaxy responded brilliantly as Victor Letsoalo levelled matters in the 33rd minute before striking again in the 77th minute. The home supporters were in celebration as Galaxy moved into a commanding position.
But Sundowns refused to surrender. Mkhulise became the hero of the night, scoring in the 89th minute to bring the visitors level before producing another moment of magic deep into stoppage time. His 94th-minute winner stunned Galaxy and snatched all three points.
A Tale of Two Halves
The match started brightly for the visitors when Sundowns were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box. León stepped up and calmly slotted the ball past the Galaxy goalkeeper to give the Brazilians an early lead.
However, Galaxy responded with determination. Letsoalo, who has been in fine form this season, found the back of the net in the 33rd minute to restore parity. The striker's movement and finishing caused problems for the Sundowns defence throughout the evening.
The second half saw Galaxy take control of the game. Letsoalo struck again in the 77th minute, putting the home side 2-1 ahead and seemingly on course for a famous victory. The Mbombela Stadium erupted as fans began to believe an upset was on the cards.
Mkhulise's Moment of Magic
Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi turned to his bench in search of a response, introducing Mkhulise in the closing stages. The decision proved inspired.
With time running out and Sundowns pushing forward, Mkhulise found space in the box and fired home in the 89th minute to bring the scores level at 2-2. The goal reignited Sundowns' hopes and deflated the Galaxy players.
Deep into stoppage time, with the match seemingly heading for a draw, Mkhulise produced a moment of individual brilliance. The midfielder drove into the box, beat his marker and unleashed a powerful shot that beat the Galaxy goalkeeper to send the Sundowns supporters into raptures.
The final whistle blew moments later, confirming a dramatic 3-2 victory for the Brazilians.
What It Means
The victory extends Sundowns' winning run and keeps them firmly in the hunt for the league title. The three points also serve as a psychological boost for the team after a challenging period.
For TS Galaxy, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow. The Rockets had been within touching distance of a memorable victory and will rue the missed opportunity to take points off the defending champions. The two goals conceded in the final minutes will be a cause for concern for the coaching staff.
Galaxy now shift their focus to Golden Arrows on Sunday, August 16, at Mbombela Stadium, while Sundowns will look to build on their momentum in their next fixture.
With reporting from SABC Sport, SuperSport, SowetanLIVE, TimesLIVE and News24.
