sportskeeda
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso expressed his frustration after the narrow victory over Stellenbosch, highlighting the opportunities missed that could have secured the win earlier.
In a Betway Premiership match at DHL Stadium on Wednesday, Sundowns achieved a tight win against Stellenbosch. Iqraam Rayners, a previous player for Stellenbosch, scored the only goal in the first half.
Despite the win, Sundowns moved three points ahead at the top of the league table, surpassing Orlando Pirates. However, Cardoso believes they should have achieved a more considerable margin.
Both Rayners and Lucas Ribeiro Costa missed multiple clear chances. Costa, in particular, squandered two significant opportunities, including a wayward shot in the 38th minute and a close-range miss just before halftime.
“It’s evident how tough it is to compete against a highly aggressive team that mainly relies on long balls rather than a structured game, making it quite challenging to apply pressure,” Cardoso remarked post-match on SuperSport TV, marking his first league appearance with the prestigious African club.
“In the first 30 minutes, we were quite confident and in control, executing high pressing effectively. However, maintaining that intensity was challenging. We experienced a dip during the last 50 minutes of the first half. Nonetheless, we managed to recharge and utilize the spaces behind their defense to create numerous chances. The crux of this match revolves around the second goal that we failed to score. We generated plenty of opportunities, yet we were left clinging to the score,” he elaborated.
“Today, we should have concluded the match significantly earlier instead of depending on the referee,” Cardoso commented.
At present, Sundowns enjoy a strong 24-point lead in the Betway Premiership, three points ahead of Pirates, having played one extra match. Their next two fixtures will be in Durban: against AmaZulu at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday, followed by a game against Richards Bay at King Zwelithini Stadium four days later.
