Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has lauded Nasreddine Nabi’s tactical game plan which brought a ‘very tough’ game at Lucas Moripe Stadium.
Despite the challenge, Lucas Ribeiro Costa’s individual brilliance was the difference as they beat them 1-0 to move 18 points clear in the title race against Orlando Pirates.
It appears all but over despite Pirates holding four games in hand but they were made to work for their three points with Amakhosi showing resilience in Atteridgeville on Saturday afternoon.
“We expected that Chiefs would overload the midfield with numbers but we knew that would give opportunity’s on the sides, and we have capacity on the sides, that’s how we scored as you remember their full back… they had midfielders controlling the insdie,” Cardoso explained.
“And their wingers controlling the insides, trying to close our build-ups inside, so their full-back was jumping on our full-back, but we knew then we have two in front and if we could attract one centre-back, eventually we could play the ball into the space.
“So Peter made that movement, Iqraam went into space, received the ball and he passed to Lucas to make the goal. As I said it’s the players who interpret things, it was a very hard game, very tactical, very well prepared by coach Nabi.
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“They have also good players and there’s an emotionality behind these kinds of matches, we don’t want to highlight it because our players are already tense for these games, so my approach is always low in demanding, just give them tools to find answers.
“Sometimes if goes well, sometimes not, this time it went well, I’m happy for that, but tough game, very tough game.”
Sundowns now turn their attentions to Golden Arrows on Wednesday before their Nedbank Cup quarter-final next Saturday – against the winner of Milford vs Sekhukhune United.
