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HomeCAF Champions LeagueCardoso Revels Over Esperance Mentality After Sundowns Win

Cardoso Revels Over Esperance Mentality After Sundowns Win

Esperance Sportive de Tunis head coach Miguel Cardoso says their first leg win over Mamelodi Sundowns was a fixture between two of the best teams in Africa.

Taraji hold a slender 1-0 advantage from their clash in Tunis after Yan Sasse’s first ha;f strike was managed to be held on for the game.

Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena stated they weren’t outplayed and that the game is far from over heading into the return leg in Tshwane on Friday.

“It was a high-quality match between two of the best teams on the continent,” Cardoso said in a post-match press conference.

“We delivered a tactically interesting performance that conformed to the game plan we had previously defined. I am extremely proud of what my players accomplished.”

The Portuguese tactician has built his recent run of results on defensive solidity, with 20-year-old goalkeeper Amanallah Memmiche central to their impressive form since his arrival.

“As expected, it came down to details where sometimes luck can contribute,” he admitted. “But luck comes with hard work, and that’s what we showed.”

“We did good things but we also suffered and had difficult times. But it is in these difficult moments that we see the character of the players and their ability to apply the game plan.

“They showed great solidarity and great combativeness, and that is what gave us allowed us to achieve this victory.”

The second leg is scheduled to take place on Friday evening at Loftus Versfeld (20h00).

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