Cardoso hails Brayan León’s dream debut as Sundowns reclaim top spot

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed his delight following a perfect start to the year for his newest recruit, Brayan León.

The Colombian forward wasted no time making his presence felt, scoring just 20 minutes into his debut to help the Brazilians secure a 2-0 victory over Orbit College FC in a Betway Premiership tie at Loftus Versfeld on Monday night.

León, who recently completed a high-profile move from Independiente Medellín, was introduced at the start of the second half as a tactical replacement for Lebogang Mothiba. The 25-year-old’s impact was immediate, finding the net in the 65th minute to double Sundowns’ lead after Arthur Sales had opened the scoring in the first half.

The win sees Masandawana leapfrog Orlando Pirates to reclaim the summit of the Betway Premiership, sitting on 29 points from 14 matches.

Speaking after the final whistle, Cardoso revealed that León’s introduction was a premeditated move designed to manage player load while integrating the new signing.

Instant Impact: Brayan León Scores on Debut as Sundowns Sink Orbit College

“We knew that Lebo [Mothiba] could not hold the full match, but we also knew we wanted to give half the match to Brayan, so it was a predicted substitution,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV. “I’m just happy that we have more solutions, especially with important players missing from the bench tonight.”

The Portuguese tactician emphasised that the depth of the squad will be the defining factor in Sundowns’ title defence, especially with a congested fixture list on the horizon.

“What these guys need to understand is that Sundowns will play a lot of matches,” Cardoso added. “The boys just need to be ready for every opportunity we give them. That is what I hope will happen for sure.”

León’s debut goal not only silenced any questions about his adaptation to South African football but also provided a vital spark for a Sundowns side currently navigating the challenges of the AFCON break period without several key internationals.