Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso feels that his team’s efforts are not appreciated enough, despite consistently getting positive results even when they’re not at their best.

Sundowns moved to within a point of Sekhukhune United at the top of the Betway Premiership table with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Durban City at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Saturday.

Sundowns now have 18 points from eight matches, just one behind Sekhukhune, who also secured a win earlier in the day. Both teams are the only ones in the league yet to lose a game, though Sundowns has a game in hand.

“As I told them before the match, when we spoke, the last match [against Marumo Gallants], we were penalized by a mistake,” Cardoso said in a post-match interview with SuperSport TV.

“Again, today, we were playing so well, and out of a mistake, we conceded a goal. It was important, obviously, to keep the result at halftime.”

Cardoso praised his team’s control of the game, stating, “I think the team played very, very well. We had total control of the match until the end; it was just a matter of scoring more goals. Obviously, getting the first goal allowed us to manage players, manage the team, and motivate everybody.”

The coach also emphasized the need for fan support. “I’m pretty happy, but it’s important that people also understand and support the team every time, that the energy that comes from the outside is positive towards the players; they need support,” he said.

“The team is reorganizing and showing a very good level, growing. Obviously, not everything is perfect, but we will never be perfect, but we will always try to be as best as possible.”

The match saw Durban City take a surprise lead in the 12th minute when Joslin Kamatuka scored with a header. However, Sundowns rallied and were leading 2-1 just before halftime when City was awarded a penalty. Ronwen Williams came up big for Sundowns, making a crucial save to deny Kamatuka a brace and preserve the lead.

Cardoso highlighted the importance of Williams’s penalty save. “A very important [moment], obviously. Great players appear at the right moments, and today he kept the morale of the team high at that moment,” he said.

“When one of us falls, another has to rise. We made a mistake that led to the penalty, and Ronwen was there. I’m very happy for him; he deserves these positive emotional moments. He’s a hell of a goalkeeper, and a hell of a man also.”