Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has shared insight into his halftime message to the players that helped spark their thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Marumo Gallants on Wednesday.
Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime after Junior Dion’s header gave Gallants the lead, Cardoso remained confident in his team’s ability to turn the game around, praising their overall performance.
The Brazilians had been dominant even in the first half, despite not finding the back of the net, and Cardoso was quick to emphasize this during his halftime pep talk. He encouraged his players to stay patient and maintain their rhythm, confident that opportunities would come in the second half if they remained composed.
After the break, Sundowns quickly responded with goals from Marcelo Allende, Lucas Ribeiro, and Iqraam Rayners, completing the turnaround and securing a vital 3-1 win at the Dr. Molemela Stadium.
“What I said to the boys at halftime was very simple and very clear – there’s no, no way to change, nothing. Just keep and going and going,” he told SuperSport TV.
“I knew that the game could become emotional, and it was important to deal with that. As much as we could focus on what we wanted for the game the best.
“I think, after we scored the first goal we lost ourselves a little bit exactly eventually, because of that anxiety of trying to make the second goal.
“But I also told them that the nail could be big, but the hammer would be stronger to put it in the wood, and we did it so completely out of question the merit of the victory.
“It was even interesting to see how we finished. But it’s becoming too easy to put our players out of the out of the of the games repeatedly. And this is a very disciplined team, and it looks like like not, but they are. They are.”
With the victory, Sundowns extended their lead to 12 points over second-placed Orlando Pirates, who now have three games in hand after their match against Golden Arrows was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. On the other hand, Marumo Gallants are left reeling, having now suffered three consecutive losses, and remain in a perilous 14th position, just above the relegation zone.
Mamelodi Sundowns will be in action this weekend against TS Galaxy – team which infamously handed Cardoso his first league defeat in the South African topflight since his appointment. Kick off at the Lucas Masterpieces Moripe Stadium is set for 17:45 on Saturday, 22 February 2025.