Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso singled out his
game-changing substitutes for special praise following the team’s late 2-0
victory over Sekhukhune United.
The match was decided in stoppage time by second-half replacements Nuno
Santos, who scored the opener, and Brayan Leon, who netted the clincher.
Fellow substitutes Khuliso Mudau and Peter Shalulile were also instrumental
in creating both decisive moments.
“I think today everybody that entered were fantastic from Peter, Tashreeq,
Nuno and both fullbacks that went in after the other ones suffered and
struggled physically,” Cardoso said after the match.
The coach highlighted the collective tactical effort and understanding that
broke down a stubborn Sekhukhune side. “The team understood the variants, we
brought a lot of tactical variants… forcing them into mistakes, getting them
tired. Sometimes, it’s not the goal-scorer but what he does to put others in
position to score.”
Cardoso also emphasized the importance of squad depth and trust, having made
significant rotations across the team’s last three demanding fixtures.
“Trust, I always speak about trust. We need to trust the players that we
have in the group and that’s exactly what we have been doing… three
line-ups, completely different so that we can go through the challenges we
have.”
He concluded by crediting the entire group for the victory,
stating, “I’m happy with the boys, the ones that are here, the ones that are
at home, the victory is theirs.”
