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"Pyramids FC piled pressure on Sundowns" — Cardoso


Sundowns in action against Pyramids
 Sundowns in action against Pyramids / Photo Credit: Mamelodi Sundowns Facebook page

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has admitted that his side cracked under pressure from Pyramids FC who found a late equalizer in the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Saturday, May 24, 2025.


However, the Portuguese mentor insists the game is still at half-time with the tie at one-all going into the second leg in Egypt.


“A 1-0 result is not the same as a 1-1, but the game is just at half time, so out of four parts, we still have two to play, and it will be a different game,” South Africa’s iDiski Times quoted the coach as saying.


“I think that with the high pressure that Pyramids put on us in the game in the beginning, we had some difficulties coping with it to play the game we wanted. But also, because our position was not the best on the pitch.”


The hosts got their foot in front after Lucas Ribeiro Costa scored in the 54th minute but could not hold on to the lead. The visitors’ pressure paid off when Walid Kart scored four minutes into added time, pouncing on a wayward clearance to head the ball past goalkeeper Ronwen Williams at the far post.


After the game at Loftus Stadium, there were questions on why Cardoso replaced Tashreeq Matthews with Jayden Adams so early in the first half. The changes appeared to be a U-turn as the coach had earlier deployed an attacking XI, with Matthews playing alongside Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Iqraam Rayners, and Arthur Sales.


In a response, iDiski Times quoted the Sundowns coach as having justified his substitutions, saying he wanted his side to regain control of the game.


“I could have waited a little bit, but I decided to change immediately the during the first half to try to rebalance the team and cope with the kind of game that was being played on the pitch, and to have mostly the capacity to have more ball and to then approach ourselves in the control of the game,” Cardoso explained.


“I think it was clear that the intention went through, and we finished the first one better, and started the second one off very well. However, after we scored the goal, I think the team, emotionally, I will not say broke down, because it’s not exactly that that happened, but eventually started thinking more about conserving the result rather than going for a second goal.”


The home draws complicated life for the Betway Premiership champions, who now need a win in Cairo to be certain of claiming the Champions League title for only the second time. Pyramids, on the other hand, can lift the trophy with a goalless draw.


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2024 Pan Africa Football

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