Miguel Cardoso warns that match overload could change the title race between Sundowns and Pirates

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso expressed relief after his team defeated Golden Arrows 3-2 in the MTN8 semi-final held in Umlazi on Sunday. This victory secured their place in the final.

Cardoso highly praised his team's mentality after they managed to overcome the deficit from the first match to beat Golden Arrows 3-2 at the King Goodwill Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday, advancing to the MTN8 final thanks to the away goals rule.

Previously, Sundowns lost the first match in Pretoria 1-0, with the goal scored by Junior Dion for Arrows. This forced the Brazilians to strive to make up for lost ground in Umlazi, although the task proved difficult.

Cassius Mailula equalized in the first half, and then Dion scored again in the 69th minute, restoring Arrows' lead in the match. However, Sundowns refused to panic. Substitute Antonio van Wyk delivered a cross that led to an equalizer by Marcelo Allende in the 77th minute, and eight minutes later, he himself scored the decisive goal from a long-range shot.

Arrows added a late goal through Philani Khumalo, but Sundowns held on to the 3-2 victory that evening, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3. Ultimately, the three goals scored away ensured their passage to the next round.

Cardoso noted that scoring three goals against Golden Arrows is not easy. He commended the Pitso Dladla team for their organization and dedication but felt that Sundowns had the right mindset to handle the pressure of overturning the result of the first match.

He stated: 'We needed to build strong commitment, attitude, and positivity around this match. We struggled, but we were able to maintain the correct positive outlook in terms of play.'

Cardoso knew that he had attacking players on the bench capable of changing the course of the game and was pleased with the reaction of his substitutes. 'We knew we had finishers on the bench who could be brought on to bring energy and give us some tricks,' he said. Van Wyk certainly played his part, helping to decisively turn the tide of the match in favor of Sundowns. Nevertheless, Cardoso emphasized that Sundowns' progress is not only related to having quality players. It also lies in finding different solutions for different opponents.

He quoted a proverb: 'There is an expression that for those who only have a hammer as a tool or solution, all problems look like nails. But not all teams are like nails. Some are nails, some are screws, and we need to use different tools depending on the matches. Otherwise, we won't solve the problems.'

For Cardoso, the comeback on Sunday was proof of the progress his team is making, especially considering the demands of participating in multiple competitions simultaneously. 'When the competition started, we said we wanted to reach the final. I asked the guys and said, 'Guys, I need to play in this final, I want you to play in this final'.' Now they have achieved their desire. Sundowns will fight for the MTN8 final against four-time defending champions Orlando Pirates after surviving a thrilling semi-final where they demonstrated the resilience Cardoso required and, crucially, managed to convert their away goals.'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has called on Masandawana fans to support the team during the period of overcoming early-season difficulties and following recent player departures.

Sundowns maintained an unbeaten run in the Betway Premiership campaign, defeating AmaZulu 5-2 at Loftus Versfeld stadium on Wednesday evening. Following this victory, Cardoso addressed the fans, emphasizing the need for patience despite ongoing defensive problems.

Nevertheless, the team has conceded eight goals since the start of the season. These goals include a 1-0 loss to Golden Arrows in the first MTN8 semi-final match, which they must rectify in the second match in Durban on Sunday afternoon (at 15:00).

Speaking after the win against Usutu in the country's capital, Cardoso expressed satisfaction with the result but regretted the defensive performance, as the team has only managed one match without conceding a goal so far.

Cardoso stated: 'We scored goals, and we could score more. But we must stop conceding goals because the team's stability comes from defense.' He added that the 5-2 result was acceptable, but 3-0 would have looked much better.

Due to the goals conceded, some players, particularly goalkeeper and vice-captain Ronwen Williams, have become targets of criticism from dissatisfied fans. Cardoso condemned this criticism and instead called for unity.

'We could have achieved an even better result, but more importantly, people must understand that supporting this team is what is needed,' said Cardoso. 'These guys need support. The team has gone through many changes and losses.' He concluded that the more support the team receives, the better it can develop, noting that the team was not bad previously, nor was it fantastic on this day.