Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso admitted his side did not play the match he envisioned, but was ultimately satisfied with a hard-earned result after they secured a 1-0 win away to Esperance in Sunday’s CAF Champions League semi-final first leg in Rades.
The only goal of the match came in the 51st minute through a header from Colombian striker Brayan León, his fourth of the campaign in the competition – after a superbly constructed move that began with Jayden Adams’ long pass to the flank, with Thapelo Morena volleying into the box for León to ghost in between two defenders.
- ALSO READ: Cardoso Explains Why He Ran Straight Into Tunnel After Final Whistle
- Sundowns Put One Foot In The CAFCL Final
It was a significant result on multiple levels. It is the first time Sundowns have beaten Esperance on Tunisian soil after five previous meetings, and the first time they have scored against the Tunisians in Tunisia since a 3-2 defeat in August 2000.
Speaking after the match, Cardoso acknowledged the game did not unfold entirely as planned.
“Obviously, the match was what I expected, despite us wanting to have a match played at the highest level as possible in terms of our possession and capacity to look for the spaces,” he said. “It was not really mission accomplished.”
The Portuguese coach said his side struggled to impose their structure in the first half, making halftime adjustments before León’s header swung the tie in Sundowns’ favour.
He credited the goal with providing the emotional lift needed to see the match through, but noted the challenge that followed – particularly after Esperance had a goal disallowed through VAR for a foul on goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and Grant Kekana was shown a straight red card in the 84th minute, leaving Sundowns to defend with ten men.
“After we lost Grant the game became much more tricky,” Cardoso admitted. “The intention was to close, take it to the last stages and keep the result.
“We don’t take anything for granted — the attitude in Pretoria has to be even stronger, even more commitment, even more tactical strictness and even more control of the match,” he said. “We need to play to win because when you don’t, you can suffer.”
The match carried an added subplot for Cardoso, who returned to Rades for the first time as an opposition coach after previously leading Esperance to the 2024 CAF Champions League final before taking charge of Sundowns.
The second leg takes place on April 18 in Pretoria, where a draw will be sufficient for Sundowns to book their place in a second consecutive CAF Champions League final.
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
