A late first-half goal and a red card proved a bitter pill to swallow for Miguel Cardoso as he suffered his first defeat as Mamelodi Sundowns coach.
Benaissa Benamar struck just two minutes after Bathusi Aubaas was dismissed. as Sundowns succumbed to a 1 nil defeat to Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League on Saturday.
While Raja also had a player dismissed, with 80 minutes on the clock, Downs were reduced to nine men as they pressed for an equaliser, in added time at the end of the game.
Reflecting on the tie, Cardoso admitted they conceded at a crucial time, having been unable to break down their opponents with a full complement of players.
It was a first defeat in charge of the Brazilians for Cardoso, who is hoping to they can put this game quickly behind them.
The head coach said on FARPost: “It was obviously a difficult match.
“I think that first half especially we had to cope with a lot of pressure that reduces the spaces to play.
“We were not able to find the spaces that were available, mostly on the back of their defence.
“They put their defensive line very high. So, we struggled a little bit to find the spaces.”
Cardoso added: “But what really changed the game is the way we suffered a goal in the last minutes of the first half because it’s always mentally, emotionally difficult to deal with a goal in the last minutes when we need to reorganise the team.
“We had just lost one player, so we needed to arrive at half-time in order for us to eventually make all the arrangements and tactically position the team in the best way.
“Even suffering the goal, we did it. It was clear that during the second half we managed to control the game.
“We just gave some opportunities in counter-attack for Raja. Unfortunately, we were not able to score. We managed tactically different approaches on the second half.
“Unfortunately, the result is what it is. Now it’s important to focus on the next one, look forward, look for what we have ahead. It’s an important match now to play away with Maniema.”
Sundowns next face Maniema Union on January 11, ahead of another Champions League clash, with AS FAR, on 19 January.