Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has commented on the pitch they played on in their Nedbank Cup Round of 16 match against TS Galaxy on Saturday.
The Brazilians were eliminated from the competition after a 2–0 defeat, with both goals scored in the first half, and Masandawana couldn’t mount a comeback.
This defeat comes after they went into the match with confidence, having beaten MC Alger in the CAF Champions League and Orlando Pirates in the Betway Premiership.
Cardoso said the pitch was not good enough for them to play the quality football they usually produce.
He also stated that they wasted a couple of goal-scoring chances and could perhaps have scored one goal to change the game and put their opponents under pressure.
“2-0 is not the same as 1-0, it’s a very difficult place to be, especially in a pitch where you cannot play the football you want to play,” said Cardoso.
“It was very difficult to play quality football here. But it was ourselves, who couldn’t convert our chances.
“There were four, five unbelievable chances that we had to score, I remember Tashreeq [Matthews] in the second half. I remember one from Brayan [Leon], I remember one from Peter [Shalulile], the shots. That’s the turning point we were looking for.
“I was confident that we were going to find that turning point, that goal that could pressure on the other side, create some panic, light the fire on the stadium that would also give us energy.
“It didn’t happen and because of that we are penalised, not much more to say.”
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