Cardoso Explains Strikerless Tactic In CAF Win Over Al Ahly
Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has explained in detail his tactical decision to start without a recognized striker against Al Ahly in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final, a move that ultimately saw his team advance to the final.
Cardoso’s side secured their place in the final on the away goals rule after a goalless draw in the first leg, followed by a 1-1 draw in the second leg played at Cairo International Stadium on Friday. They will now face Pyramids FC, who also caused an upset by defeating Orlando Pirates 3-2 on aggregate on the same day.
The first leg of the final is scheduled for 24 May, with the return leg on 1 June. Amasandawana will be aiming to lift the Champions League trophy for the first time since 2016.
It was a surprising team selection when Cardoso opted for a front three of Lucas Ribeiro Costa, supported by Thapelo Morena and Tashreeq Matthews, leaving regular starting strikers Igraam Rayners and Peter Shalulile on the bench at the start of the match.
The 52-year-old coach clarified that this tactical approach was based on his understanding of Al Ahly’s central defensive strength.
“It has to do with the characteristics of the players of Al Ahly,” Cardoso explained.
“We knew that their center backs are very strong in physical duels. We knew that we had to tire them out, we knew that we had to exploit the spaces, and we knew that mobility would be key for us. That’s what we aimed for.”
He continued, “Obviously, it’s the toughest decision to leave players like Peter and Igraam, or even Themba [Zwane], who are our forwards, out of the starting lineup—but football isn’t just about individual players; it’s about the tactical ideas. When the players effectively execute the coach’s ideas, it becomes simpler.”
This strategy appeared to pay dividends. When Rayners and Shalulile were introduced later in the game, Al Ahly’s defense, with the home side having scored first in the first half through Taher Mohamed, looked fatigued. Following a flick-on by Zwane, Yasser Ibrahim, while backpedaling to clear the danger, inadvertently knocked the ball into his own net for the equalizing goal in the last minute.
That was enough to see Sundowns reach their third final in this competition.
“We knew that we could utilize those players at the right moments in the game, and that’s precisely what we did to inject more aggression into our attack,” Cardoso added.
“We needed that to capitalize on the fatigue that our defense had endured. And in football, there’s always an element of luck involved, and I believe we deserved it. We created the opportunity for that luck, we scored, and after that, it was about managing the game effectively.”
With the Champions League two-legged final taking place next month, the African giants will now shift their focus back to domestic duties as they prepare to host Richards Bay at Loftus Versveld Stadium in the Betway Premiership on Wednesday at 19:30.
