Miguel Cardoso Frustrated as Sundowns Held to Draw by Marumo Gallants
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso expressed frustration after his side missed the chance to reclaim top spot in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday evening. The defending champions were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against Marumo Gallants in Bloemfontein, a result that left them trailing league leaders Sekhukhune United by a single point.
The Brazilians maintained their unbeaten record in the campaign but dropped valuable points in a match they dominated for long spells. An unfortunate own goal by defender Keanu Cupido allowed Gallants to equalise and hold firm until the final whistle.
Speaking to SuperSport TV after the game, Cardoso admitted his disappointment with both the result and the flow of the match. “We see Sundowns fighting for a result until the last minute. A lot of waste time, not a lot of positivity in the approach regarding the game from the referees. But it’s Sundowns trying to fight hard for a result,” he said.
The coach felt his side created enough chances to win but failed to convert them. “Not an easy match. Stealing the front we had to push our luck very high in the pitch, we were penalised by a mistake we did. I think we had a lot of chances to score and when you don’t score your goals, results like this can happen. Not a wonderful game. I think we should’ve had the result from here that’s for sure.”
Despite the setback, Cardoso praised the team’s resilience after conceding. “I think we fought well, the energy we needed until the end. We made a very good second half in terms of capacity to fight against the adversity that was the goal we suffered. But not enough. We didn’t score and when you don’t score, you’re penalised. That’s it. But I think the boys tried hard until the end.”
Sundowns now shift focus to their next fixture, knowing a return to clinical finishing will be vital if they are to reclaim the top spot from Sekhukhune United. For Cardoso, the draw served as a reminder that small mistakes can prove costly in a tight title race.
