Cardoso targets domestic cup success as Sundowns seek Golden Arrows comeback

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso says securing a domestic cup trophy is the remaining gap in his South African coaching record as his side attempt to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat by Golden Arrows.

Sundowns must win the second leg to keep their cup campaign alive after Arrows claimed victory in the opening meeting. Cardoso’s team will now have to recover from the deficit while rediscovering the intensity that helped them succeed in the CAF Champions League.

The Brazilians have continued to dominate the domestic league and enjoyed a historic CAF Champions League triumph last season. However, Cardoso admits domestic cup success has eluded him since he arrived in South Africa.

“Regarding cup finals, it’s obviously something I told the boys – it’s something missing from us – not just finals but victories on domestic cups,” Cardoso said.

“It’s not like I heard that other day where someone said we had not won nothing [here]. We won the league, okay without a cup – and last year we didn’t win the cup in South Africa.

“In the first season we played only one, the other two had already been played by the club. It’s a minus, obviously.”

Cardoso has already guided Sundowns to a league title and Champions League success, but he wants to add domestic cup silverware before his spell in South Africa comes to an end.

“I want to put cups on my CV in South Africa – and we still can,” he said.

The Portuguese coach believes his players must approach the second leg with the same mentality they showed in continental competition. He has challenged them to treat the tie as though they were facing a two-match Champions League qualifying round.

“To make this one, we need to live the spirit of the Champions League,” Cardoso explained.

“Today and yesterday, I told them we need to play like it’s Champions League qualifying round where you have two matches.

“I even told Denis [Onyango], tell them what they need to do to play this match as a Champions League [match].”

Sundowns did not produce that level of performance in the first leg, according to Cardoso, but he insists the contest remains open with 90 minutes still to play.

“Yeah, we didn’t do [that], but still there’s 90 minutes and I hope that spirit is embedded and lived by the team in the right way when we go and pick the flight to go to Golden Arrows,” he added.

“We can do the second leg in the level we need to have. It will be tough but it’s possible to do what’s needed to be done.”

A victory in the return fixture would keep alive Sundowns’ opportunity to address the one notable omission from Cardoso’s record in South African football. The coach is confident the deficit can still be overturned, but accepts his side must deliver a significantly improved display against Golden Arrows.