Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso delivered a pointed assessment of Kaizer Chiefs’ strategy following their goalless draw in the Betway Premiership at FNB Stadium.
The match, played before a crowd of 75,000, was an intense tactical battle but ultimately produced no breakthrough.
The result keeps Sundowns in third place on eight points, while Chiefs remain ahead with ten.
Speaking to SuperSport TV, Cardoso praised the atmosphere and his players’ approach but was forthright in questioning the effectiveness of Chiefs’ tactics.
A wonderful atmosphere, a fantastic match and very intense from the start, quite difficult to play, he said.
The Portuguese coach felt his side were superior in the opening stages.
We played better in the first half than in the second. After the first fifteen minutes, we identified the spaces to exploit and took control of the game, he explained.
However, Cardoso admitted his team’s rhythm was unsettled after the break, with the memory of recent setbacks influencing their play.
We didn’t start badly, but as time went on, the emotions weren’t good. It reminded us of the last two games where we conceded late, he said, alluding to the MTN8 semi-final defeat to Orlando Pirates.
Despite frustration at being held, the Sundowns coach highlighted his side’s resilience in defence.
I’m happy with the boys’ fighting ability. It seemed like we could have gone until tomorrow without conceding a goal, but we only took one point. The team understood what to do. Nobody is happy, we want to win every day, but today is an important result and we can draw energy from it.
Cardoso’s post-match comments underscored both satisfaction and irritation: pleased by his side’s ability to withstand pressure yet critical of the opposition’s approach, which he implied lacked ambition.
For Chiefs, the result consolidates their position near the top of the table, while Sundowns must look to regain consistency after a string of difficult fixtures.
With both teams among the title contenders, the stalemate served as another reminder of how fine the margins are in South Africa’s top flight.
As the Premiership campaign unfolds, Cardoso’s remarks set the tone for what promises to be a tense rivalry between two of the league’s most influential clubs.
For Sundowns, the challenge now is to convert defensive solidity into victories that will propel them back into serious contention.
