WATCH: Why Miguel Cardoso wasn’t surprised by Pirates’ tactics

When the final whistle blew at FNB Stadium on Wednesday night, signalling a 2-1 victory for Mamelodi Sundowns against Orlando Pirates, Miguel Cardoso cut the figure of a man who had seen the script before it was even written.

While many expected a tactical chess match in the Betway Premiership tie, Cardoso revealed in his post-match analysis that the ‘Brazilians’ were prepared for a very specific version of the Buccaneers—one that only tends to show up when they face the reigning champions.

Sundowns coach Cardoso admitted that his technical team had spent hours dissecting Pirates’ recent performances. However, he noticed a recurring trend: teams often deviate from their standard league form when they face Sundowns.

𝗠𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘀𝗼: “𝗔 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁” 🗣️

​Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso was full of praise for his side after their 2-1 victory over Orlando Pirates.#BetwayPrem #Sundowns #AreyengMasandawana pic.twitter.com/4ttM1vxvKa

— Pan-Africa Football (@PanAfricaFooty) February 18, 2026

“The match we played was exactly what we predicted,” Cardoso noted. “Pirates used their typical style of play when they played against us, which is a bit different from what we have been seeing in the other matches we analysed. But they had a strong start to the game, and they are a team with a lot of quality and solutions in front, and they are different to control.

“We took the game to Pirates and wanted to dominate ball possession, and we scored two goals. We managed the game well.
By recognising that Pirates would pivot away from their recent tactical trends to a more specialised approach for the “Big Three” clash, Cardoso was able to prepare his squad for a game that wasn’t on the recent tapes but was etched in the history of this rivalry.

Sundowns Coach Speaks On Maturity Under Pressure Against Pirates

It is one thing to predict a tactical shift; it is another to survive it. As Pirates pushed back, Cardoso pointed to the mental fortitude of his squad as the deciding factor.

He highlighted two key pillars of the win. Maturity: The ability to stay calm when Pirates deviated from the expected scouting reports. Quality: The clinical nature of the Sundowns attack that converted chances in a high-stakes environment.

Despite the intensity of the clash at FNB Stadium, Cardoso was adamant that the result reflected the balance of play. By anticipating the “different” version of Pirates, Sundowns managed to dictate the tempo and neutralise the threats that often catch other teams off guard.

“I have to praise the maturity and quality of our players for the win,” Cardoso concluded, framing the result not as a stroke of luck, but as a fair victory earned through superior preparation.

“It is a fair victory by this humble group of players. We wanted to win the game and brought the right attitude.”