Cardoso turns attention to AS Maniema clash

Miguel Cardoso was keen not to dwell on his first defeat as Mamelodi Sundowns head coach, wanting instead to focus on securing qualification for the CAF Champions League knockout stages in their next match.

The Portuguese tactician took over the reins from the sacked Manqoba Mngqithi on December 11 and kicked off his tenure with a 1-0 victory over Raja Casablanca in Pretoria four days later.

Cardoso also won his opening three games in the Betway Premiership, but saw his perfect start come to an end on Saturday after Bafana ba Style lost 1-0 to the Green Eagles in a fiery encounter at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

The Brazilians played the entire second half with just 10 men after Bathusi Aubaas received a straight red card on 40 minutes and the hosts capitalised immediately as Benaissa Benamar opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

Raja were also reduced to 10 men on 80 minutes following a second yellow card for Marouane Zila, while Khuliso Mudau was sent off deep into stoppage time for punching Naoufel Zerhouni in the face.

Cardoso admitted the turning point in the contest came when Sundowns conceded just before the break, but felt his team managed to control proceedings in the second half, although they weren’t able to take their chances.

“It was obviously a difficult match. I think that first half especially we had to cope with a lot of pressure that reduces the spaces to play,” he said in the post-match press conference.

“We were not able to find the spaces that were available, mostly on the back of their defence. They put their defensive line very high, so we struggled a little bit to find the spaces.

“But what really changed the game is the way we suffered a goal in the last minutes of the first half because it’s always mentally, emotionally difficult to deal with a goal in the last minutes when we need to reorganise the team.

“We had just lost one player, so we needed to arrive at half-time in order for us to eventually make all the arrangements and tactically position the team in the best way.

“Even suffering the goal, we did it. It was clear that during the second half we managed to control the game.”

Cardoso added: “After the red card, we rebalanced the team in order to try to make it our best to win. We had two free moments. We didn’t take advantage from them.

“Unfortunately, the result is what it is. Now it’s important to focus on the next one, look forward, look for what we have ahead. It’s an important match now to play away with Maniema.”