Miguel Cardoso on drawing against Chippa – ‘We were not happy’

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso revealed his dissatisfaction with his team's performance at halftime of their recent match against Chippa United. 

Despite taking a 1-0 lead through Arthur Sales, the reigning champions were ultimately held to a 1-1 draw after Khaya Mfecane scored an equalizer in the second half. 

Cardoso highlighted the team's inability to maintain control throughout the game, from the first whistle to the last. This lack of sustained dominance proved costly, particularly against a fired-up Chippa side, who were playing under the leadership of their new coach, Sinethemba Badela. 

The draw was a frustrating start to the season for the Tshwane giants, who felt they had let an early lead slip away.

‘WE DIDN’T START WELL’

“The outcome obviously isn’t the best. So, we have to say we didn’t start well and I think we really didn’t start well the match,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV.

“When we play against these kind of teams, you have to have the best strategy inside the pitch to take the game forward. What we control, control the possession and the ability to play in the spaces.

“It seems we didn’t put the proper intensity to escape from the duels so we made of the first half a more physical game rather than a game the way we have to play it. So, even winning at halftime we were not happy.

“I think we started better second half, but pretty quickly not keep and suffered a goal out of nothing what brought the energy Chippa was looking for and from then on.

“I think everybody saw a lot of players falling on the ground so quite difficult to keep the pace. We are penalised by what we didn’t do in the first half.”