Sundowns suffer Champions League blow as Cardoso vows to fight on

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has described the club’s CAF Champions League exit as “a big punch in our faces”, but insists the season can still be salvaged.

The reigning African champions were knocked out in the second preliminary round on away goals after drawing 1-1 with Wiliete SC at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night. The first leg in Angola had ended goalless.

Tashreeq Matthews gave Sundowns the lead after 11 minutes, but Cristovao “Mabululu” Paciencia equalised in the 48th minute. Sundowns registered 18 shots to Wiliete’s six but could not find the goal that would have taken them through.

The result means they have failed to reach the group stage for the first time in 11 seasons.

Cardoso was asked whether he could rescue the campaign or whether the early continental exit should cost him his job, but he did not directly discuss his own future. Instead, he highlighted Sundowns’ recent record and ambitions in Africa.

“This club is a club that has proposed itself for many years to win the Champions League and compete every year to win the Champions League, in the last four years, two semi-finals, two finals in the last two years with me at the head of the team, one star on the shirt,” he said.

“This season we played for two trophies and won two trophies, we are leading the league in South Africa – it’s a big knockout this one, it’s a big punch in our faces, yes. But what will make us stronger, is how we will react, there’s so many more things to win.”

The coach accepted responsibility for the defeat and said the result affected everyone at the club.

“I repeat it was a big punch in our faces, absolutely, on me – on the players, on everybody, as I understand, when we win, everyone wins, when we lose, everyone loses. There are many reflections, many analysis that we will have to do together.”

Cardoso said the campaign was “very far from being a catastrophe”, pointing to another final in approximately one and a half to two weeks at Loftus Versfeld.

“Football happened today, obviously it’s horrible, we all wanted to win this competition, but this season is very far from being a catastrophe, we need to move forward and as I said, there’s already a final in one and half weeks or two weeks to play in this stadium.”

He felt Sundowns had failed to take control of the tie, a point he made to the players during the interval.

“We were not strong enough and in a game, football penalises when you are not strong enough, because you had your moments to finish the game. I told the boys at half-time you should have finished the game.”

Cardoso refused to criticise his squad, coaching staff or the club’s backing, and said Sundowns’ reaction would ultimately define them.

“What is going to speak for Sundowns, is the greatness that will come after this defeat… It’s proof of character that we have to give.”

He called for unity at Chloorkop and urged supporters to fill the stadium and help the team pursue the remaining trophies.