Cardoso Addresses Defensive Concerns Ahead Of Fluminense Clash
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso admitted they will have to be better than they were against Borussia Dortmund, especially with their crucial FIFA Club World Cup match against Fluminense at Hard Rock Stadium looming on Wednesday.
In their previous Group F encounter on Saturday, Sundowns managed to score three goals by pressing Dortmund, but they also gifted the German side two goals in the first half and were further punished in the second.
The first uncharacteristic mistake came from Ronwen Williams, whose midfield pass was intercepted by Felix Nmecha, who then scored into an empty net. Later, Teboho Mokoena, another key player for Sundowns, lost possession in his own half, leading to Julian Brandt clipping the ball to the back post for Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy to score.
Jobe Bellingham added a third, and Khuliso Mudau scored an own goal, Dortmund’s fourth, effectively taking the game away from the South African giants.
Despite the setback, Sundowns remained undaunted. Lucas Ribeiro, having scored what is set to be a contender for Goal of the Tournament to stun the Germany side in the first half, two second-half goals from Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba made for a nervy end to the game.
However, heading into the decisive match against Fluminense, where a win would secure Sundowns’ place in the knockout stages, such defensive errors cannot be repeated.
Cardoso on Defensive Anomalies and Tactical Approach
“That is obviously a normal question after a game where you have a result of 3-4,” said Cardoso. “It’s not normal to concede so many goals for Mamelodi Sundowns. Since I have been at the club, we have conceded two goals [as the most we have conceded], and even two goals are very rare. It’s also not normal for any team to score three goals against Dortmund. When you analyze the situation, you need to look at it.”
Cardoso emphasized the need for a stronger defensive display against their next opponents. “We know that if we suffer four goals against Fluminense, we will lose the match, for sure. It is impossible to overcome such a level of conceding goals. We have to be more complete.”
He also highlighted the unusual nature of the Dortmund game: “We also understand that game was not normal in how it unfolded. There were some incidents that, even the fourth goal, it was a deflection from our defender [Keanu Cupido]. We are usually quite strong defensively. We usually control the game with our capacity.”
Conceding four goals in a single game was a first for Sundowns since their debut in the same competition in 2016, when they lost 4-1 to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the fifth-place playoff match.
Cardoso stressed that his team must control the game from start to finish and operate cohesively across all areas of the pitch.
“We have to manage the game as much as possible when we have the ball,” he stated. “Also, to manage the rhythm of the game, to be together in the different parts of the pitch, both in defense and attack, traveling together everywhere because that is how we need to be. We expect a very competitive match.”
In the other Group F match, Dortmund will complete the group stage when they face bottom-placed Ulsan HD at the same time at TQL Stadium on Wednesday.
