Tshwane, South Africa – Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso defended his approach after his team drew 1-1 with Orlando Pirates in a Betway Premiership match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Peter Shalulile gave Sundowns the lead midway through the first half, but youngster Cemran Dansin scored a stunning equaliser for the Buccaneers, extending a run of stalemates between the two sides. This marked the third consecutive draw this season, following two MTN8 semi-final matches that also ended level despite Sundowns taking early leads.
Cardoso dismissed claims that he favours a defensive style. “Of course we wanted to win, and if you were in my change room at half-time, you would understand how much I pushed these guys,” he said. He noted the squad faced limitations due to injuries, restricting attacking options.
The Portuguese coach described the result as fair, acknowledging Sundowns’ dominance but crediting Pirates for a disciplined performance. He added that the league title race will be more competitive this season, with both teams showing balanced performances. Pirates, with two games in hand, are two points behind Sundowns after nine matches.
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