Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso delivered a defiant message after his side produced one of the most extraordinary results of the Betway Premiership season – a breathless 7-4 victory over Siwelele at Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Brazilians were utterly ruthless in attack, with goals from Teboho Mokoena, a brace from Tashreeq Matthews, an own goal from Nyiko Mobbie, and a hat-trick from Brayan León completing the rout. But Siwelele refused to lie down, with Ghamphani Lungu netting three times – including a penalty – and Mokhuoane adding a fourth to ensure a dramatic afternoon in Pretoria.
While the win moved Sundowns to within touching distance of the title, Cardoso was quick to point out that conceding four goals was simply not good enough, regardless of how many they scored at the other end.
“I think we scored another goal that was quite fair and not offside, so when you risk so much and put so much energy, there will be moments where you master your defence or you cannot do it,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV.
The Portuguese coach acknowledged that his players’ mentality in front of goal was to keep attacking, but insisted that a winning margin of seven goals could only be fully appreciated if the defensive side of the game matched it.
“I understood the energy of the boys inside the pitch was to score and score, but really to achieve a result in a match like this, that could give us seven, eight, nine goals, you cannot suffer four,” he said.
“Otherwise in the end it’s the same as winning three or four-nil — our defence could not really cope with the capacity the attack showed. We also had less numbers in balancing the team of course.”
Despite the defensive frailties, Cardoso was pragmatic about the result and what it means for the title race. Sundowns remain at the summit of the Betway Premiership, holding 65 points from 28 matches with just a three-point lead over second place, and are now one win away from clinching the league championship.
“Important win and three points, three points away from finishing the league, with one match,” Cardoso said. “Let’s win the match and see what comes from there.”
The coach also revealed the immense physical and logistical challenges the squad is currently navigating. Managing a congested fixture list that includes both domestic and continental commitments, he was forced to make tactical substitutions that briefly disrupted the team’s rhythm.
“It was also important to understand there was a moment I had to manage the team — the team dropped when we made subs, the players on the pitch were at their limit,” he explained. “We will play in three days, in four days we play Champions League, after the TS Galaxy match.”
Cardoso was candid about the injury concerns that have plagued his squad, naming several players who are either returning from or managing physical problems.
“Tashreeq is on a thin wire on his legs. Brayan and León coming from muscle injuries, Arthur not really calm — so many problems people don’t know about,” he said.
“We are struggling a lot, we are fighting everything — the calendar, we’re fighting against everything, maybe even people at home watching the game from sofas,” Cardoso said. “But we’re strong.”
With one league match remaining and a place in the CAF Champions League final also secured after beating Esperance 2-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals, Sundowns are on the brink of a historic double. Cardoso’s message was clear – whatever the obstacles, this group will not be broken.
