Cardoso surprised by Chiefs’ five-man defence in Sundowns draw

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says Kaizer Chiefs’ decision to use a five-man defensive line caught his side by surprise in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium.

Chiefs manager Fernando Da Cruz selected a 5-3-2 formation, adding an extra defender to reduce the space available to Sundowns and provide a platform for counter-attacking opportunities.

“We obviously didn’t come to face a five-man defensive line, which Chiefs played today, but we knew the coach likes to prepare in relation to the opponent, so we were prepared to analyse what was happening on the pitch,” Cardoso said.

The Portuguese coach recognised that Chiefs’ shape was designed to disrupt Sundowns’ possession-based approach. By defending with greater numbers, Amakhosi were also able to wait for moments when they could break quickly into the spaces left by their opponents.

Cardoso said Chiefs were aware that Sundowns’ desire to attack could expose them to danger in transition.

“It was important not to lose the match both teams didn’t want to lose the match today,” he said.

“I think we went more towards the intention of wanting to win, and that’s because we showed that capacity on the pitch, and Kaizer Chiefs understood that from a transition they could get a goal and it did arrive, and sometimes teams win games like that.”

Chiefs took advantage of one such opportunity when Langelihle Phili put them ahead. Sundowns recovered, with Cassius Mailula scoring the equaliser to secure a point for the visitors.

Although the two teams adopted noticeably different tactical approaches, Cardoso was pleased with the quality and competitive nature of the match.

“Overall it was a beautiful football match, played with natural aggression reflective of the levels of commitment from the teams on the pitch,” he said.

The draw brought an end to Sundowns’ perfect start to the Betway Premiership season. Chiefs, meanwhile, extended their unbeaten run after beginning the campaign with two victories and a draw.

Da Cruz said after the match that injuries had played a part in his decision to alter the system. He also highlighted the importance of controlling the areas Sundowns could use to build attacks and create chances.

The tactical change ultimately earned Chiefs another significant result against the reigning African champions. Their willingness to sacrifice some possession and attacking numbers gave them defensive security while preserving a threat on the counter-attack.

Sundowns were unable to find a winning goal after Mailula’s equaliser, despite showing a greater desire to take the initiative during the contest. Chiefs remained top of the table, while Sundowns had to settle for a point from a match shaped by the contrasting plans of Cardoso and Da Cruz.