Cardoso credits tactical plan as Sundowns end Pirates’ MTN8 reign

Mamelodi Sundowns manager Miguel Cardoso says his team’s ability to withstand Orlando Pirates’ fast starts and late pressure was decisive in their 2-0 MTN8 final victory at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday night.

The result in Durban ended Orlando Pirates’ four-season hold on the competition, with Teboho Mokoena and Iqraam Rayners scoring the goals that secured the trophy for Sundowns.

Cardoso said Sundowns had identified the periods in which the Buccaneers are most dangerous and tailored their approach accordingly. The Brazilians were prepared for Pirates to try to seize control early and apply sustained pressure again towards the end of the match.

“It was a difficult start for us because a lot of our players only trained very recently, but we always knew that the start and the end of matches bring the strongest moments from Pirates and we had to cope with that,” Cardoso said.

Sundowns made adjustments during the interval, allowing them to improve their possession and reduce the tactical errors that had affected the opening stages.

“We corrected a few things at halftime to have more of the ball and to make less tactical mistakes,” Cardoso added.

“Overall, I think we controlled the game, although we did have chances to add to our lead much earlier on. We were fair and deserved winners.”

The victory delivered a trophy that had remained out of Sundowns’ reach in recent seasons. Cardoso said winning the MTN8 had been the club’s objective from the beginning of the campaign, rather than a target that emerged only as the tournament progressed.

Although pleased with the outcome, the Sundowns manager acknowledged that the performance was not entirely in line with the team’s usual approach. He said he would have enjoyed the occasion even more if his side had played as they normally do against Pirates.

However, the nature of the final required Sundowns to adapt. Cardoso’s team prioritised managing the key phases of the match and limiting the threat posed by Pirates before their goals secured the title.

The 2-0 win therefore combined defensive discipline with effective finishing, as Mokoena and Rayners provided the decisive moments to prevent Pirates from extending their dominance of the MTN8.