Cardoso: Strategic caution key for Mamelodi Sundowns on continental stage

Mamelodi Sundowns’ coach Miguel Cardoso has suggested they need to take calculated risks on the continent if they are to progress from the group stage and go all the way this season.

Sundowns will end the year sitting on four points in Group C, following their win over St Eloi Lupopo and their draw with MC Alger on Saturday.

The Brazilians’ draw with Alger was a two-edged sword for the South Africans. Cardoso and his troops wanted to beat the Algerians, who are now coached by the club’s former mentor Rulani Mokwena.

On the flip side, Cardoso believes they put on a show that was deserving of the magnitude of the game and its high expectations.

The Portuguese coach’s approach to the game was highly scrutinised, as critics lamented that he played for a draw. They argued this was why they were thin in the final third after starting Iqraam Rayners as the only striker, while making only two attacking substitutions.

Cardoso defended his approach, insisting they needed to adapt to the demands of the game, as Alger were always going to be a tough nut to crack in front of their supporters, who spurred them on from start to finish. And that’s why he was relatively pleased with the draw, as it ensured they ended the year with only two points dropped in their group.

“I understand the question about going hard in attack and trying to win,” Cardoso said.

“This is a competition where you play for points. When you get a point away, that means you’ve taken two points from your opponents.

“We knew that if we had pushed more numbers up front, we’d be vulnerable to counter-attacks. And that is very dangerous when they have spaces to use. So, not allowing spaces means attacking with purpose and managing the result.

“Sometimes people don’t analyse who’s on the other side. MC Alger were good defensively, as they showed their capacity during the game. We didn’t arrive in their box as much as we wanted, and that’s very important.”

Cardoso came close to returning the club to the pinnacle of continental success for the first time since their triumph in 2016, but it wasn’t to be — they fell at the final hurdle at the expense of Africa Club of the Year, Pyramids of Egypt.

Cardoso and Co must fix that. Another near miss on the continent will certainly not be good enough to keep Cardoso in his job next season, as the club wants to win the crown more than any other title.

The bald-headed coach knows that won’t be easy, explaining the approach Alger used to keep them at bay and off the score sheet.

“I think the history of this match showed when Sundowns tried to start the buildup from the back,” Cardoso said. “When you don’t press the goalkeeper, there’s clearly no extra man.

“MC Alger didn’t want Sundowns to have an extra man because that would allow us to create challenges for them up front. But we should use our abilities to control the game, build the game, and show unity within the team.

“Given the stats, it’s clear we had the most numbers across the board. This team has high quality up front. And in the Champions League, any mistake can make you concede.”

The Brazilians will now have to turn their focus to domestic matters this week before the season comes to a halt due to the AFCON break.

They’ll play their last game of the year away to Siwelele FC at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Wednesday. This is a game they’ll need to win at all costs to potentially return to the top of the log, after Orlando Pirates won over the weekend and moved to the summit with a three-point lead.