How Cardoso’s masterstroke adjustments tilted semi-final in Sundowns’ favour

The 10-man Sundowns registered a statement away win in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semifinal played in Rades, Tunisia, thanks to Brayan Leyón’s goal shortly after the break.

The Brazilians had survived an onslaught in the first half, saved by the goalpost, as well as Ronwen Williams and Grant Kekana’s brilliance. 

Cardoso explains how they tried to manage the game as the hosts piled on the pressure...

"After the first half we realised that it was not really mission accomplished. The positioning was not exactly what we wanted so we made some corrections and the goal gave us an important emotional moment to give us the energy to take the match to the end."

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Champions League matches, especially in the decisive stages, are very difficult to handle, and Cardoso says in the second leg at home this weekend, they need to control the game better.

"We cannot take anything for granted and the attitude in Pretoria has to be even stronger, more committed and tactically stricter. We need to play to win because when you don't you can suffer, and that's the only way this team knows how to play."

The Brazilians finished the game one man down after Kekana was shown a straight red for a high boot six minutes before full-time. They played the last 16 minutes under pressure, but Cardoso was happy with how his players handled that. 

In the second leg, Cardoso says the team that controls the mega moments of the game better will advance to the final...

Cardoso, who was previously an Esperance coach and beat Sundowns on his way to the final two years ago, is now chasing his third Champions League final in a row, and he hopes it will be third time lucky.