Cardoso bemoans lack of aggression from champions

A lack of aggression and a costly mistake at the end of the game cost champions Mamelodi Sundowns points at home against Stellenbosch, said coach Miguel Cardoso after Wednesday’s 1-1 draw.

The stalemate at Loftus Versfeld saw Sundowns fail to overtake Orlando Pirates at the top of the Betway Premiership standings, although they are only one point behind the leaders and with a game in hand.

Sundowns were 1-0 ahead at halftime after Ntsiki Tshabaleng scored in the 27th minute, but Stellenbosch earned their point when Tshegofatso Mabasa equalised four minutes from time.

Stellenbosch were awarded a penalty after a foul by Khulumani Ndamane on Chumani Butsaka, and while Mabasa’s spotkick was saved by Ronwen Williams, he was first to the rebound and tucked it away.

“In the first 20 minutes, we were quite sloppy in trying to get our rhythm, to get into the game, and to find the spaces to penetrate,” Cardoso complained after the contest.

“It was not really very intense, not really very aggressive. We made it quite easy to control for Stellenbosch.

“As the match settled down, we were able to impose ourselves. We scored and we were in control, despite not being really extraordinary up until halftime.”

Cardoso said he looked to make several corrections at halftime, “regarding positioning and taking control and being able to create more”.

“I think the boys understood. Despite the high pressure from Stellenbosch, we found the spaces to penetrate and enter behind their defence. I think we did more than enough to score, and we can only complain about the moments when we didn't put the ball inside the net.”

Then Stellenbosch equalised to end a run of 10 successive wins in the Betway Premiership for Sundowns.

“That's the story of the game, simple as it is. In these kinds of games, if you give something to the opponent, to collect from mistakes on your own part, then obviously you are not taking care of what you had in hand,” Cardoso added.