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Mamelodi Sundowns’ head coach Miguel Cardoso provided insights into his tactical decision to start without a conventional striker against Al Ahly in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final, a move that successfully propelled his team to the finals.
Cardoso’s squad secured its place in the finals based on the away goals rule, following a goalless draw in the first leg and a 1-1 draw in the second leg at Cairo International Stadium on Friday. They will now face Pyramids FC, who unexpectedly triumphed over Orlando Pirates with a 3-2 aggregate score on the same day.
The first match of the final is scheduled for 24 May, with the second leg on 1 June. Amasandawana aims to capture the Champions League trophy for the first time since 2016.
In a surprising move, Cardoso opted for a front three of Lucas Ribeiro Costa, assisted by Thapelo Morena and Tashreeq Matthews, while regular strikers Igraam Rayners and Peter Shalulile started on the bench.
The 52-year-old coach stated that this tactical choice was influenced by his analysis of Al Ahly’s strong central defense.
“This relates to the characteristics of Al Ahly’s players,” Cardoso noted.
“We identified that their center backs excel in physical battles. Our goal was to wear them down, exploit weaknesses, and prioritize mobility. That was our focus.”
He added, “Of course, leaving out key players like Peter and Igraam, or even Themba [Zwane], from the starting lineup was difficult—but football revolves around tactical strategies rather than individual skills. When players effectively execute the coach’s plans, the game becomes more manageable.”
This strategy appeared to pay off. When Rayners and Shalulile were introduced later in the game, Al Ahly’s defense, which had initially scored first through Taher Mohamed, began to display signs of fatigue. A flick-on from Zwane resulted in Yasser Ibrahim inadvertently scoring an own goal, leveling the match in the closing moments.
This achievement marked Sundowns’ third appearance in the finals of this tournament.
“We understood we could utilize these players at critical times, and that’s exactly what we did to inject more aggression into our attack,” Cardoso explained.
“We needed to capitalize on the fatigue experienced by their defense. In football, an element of luck is always involved, and I believe we earned it. We created the right conditions for that luck, scored, and then it was about managing the game effectively.”
As the two-legged Champions League final approaches next month, the African powerhouse will shift its focus back to domestic matters, preparing to host Richards Bay at Loftus Versveld Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday at 19:30.
Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu
