Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has slammed his players for “playing without their brains” during their 2-1 defeat to Orlando Pirates on Sunday.
Sundowns went down at the FNB Stadium when Relebohile Mofokeng’s brace inside five minutes gave Pirates an early two-goal advantage and even though Khuliso Mudau pulled one back, the Soweto giants held on to win.
Cardoso says his players did not look prepared for the match as they did not think most of their actions during the contest which had a huge bearing on the PSL title race.
Cardoso unimpressed by ‘lack of brain’
“When you start a game like this, you should not expect good things,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV.
“I can only commend that we had a good reaction after the goal until the 25th minute, and then we played until half-time with the heart, but no brain. The brain stayed in the locker room, and football is mostly played with the brain.
“On the second half, we brought a little bit more brain on the pitch. Unfortunately, there was a period of 15 minutes after our game that the referee allowed not to play no one.
“Everybody falling on the ground. No football. It’s a shame, but it’s what we have, and that took out our energy.
How can Pirates catch Sundowns?
“If it was a strategy, it was a good strategy, because it took our energy out. We were punished by the beginning. Nothing more to say.”
Defeat sees Pirates cut Sundowns’ league lead to 15 points and with four games in hand, Jose Riveiro’s team can narrow the gap to just three points, and set up an exciting final weeks of the season.
Sundowns had been unbeaten in 10 league matches against Pirates, having won nine, including a 4-1 victory last month, and drawn one, but found the going tough on Sunday.
