Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso (centre) with his support staff during the CAF Champions League first-leg semi-final in Tunis.
Image: BackpagePix
The work is not done.
That's the simplistic message from Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso after his team's claimed an all-important 1-0 victory away to Esperance in Tunis in Sunday evening's CAF Champions League first-leg semi-final.
Sundowns earned the vital away goal, thanks to a second half header from Colombian striker Brayan Léon, his fourth goal of the competition.
The Brazilians will, however, be without central defender Grant Kekana for the second leg at Loftus Versveld in Pretoria on Saturday after he was shown a straight red card in the 84th minute.
"We played against a very strong team. I think we did well to understand the different moments of the game, the moments in which we played," Cardoso said.
"I think in the first half we played much more with the ball. It brings us closer to the way we want to play. We needed to make some corrections in the second half. I think it was important to do that. We weren't too far, but we didn't play the way we wanted to play. We came on very well.
"We scored an important goal. Of course, we had to expect a reaction from a team like Espérance. For us, it was important to continue to look for an opportunity to get to the box.
"But I think, as I said yesterday, the approach in the first half must be even stronger, even more concentrated, even more determined in terms of application and the tactical approach, so that we can take advantage of the result here and, of course, not go to the second match thinking that the work is done, because it's not done, of course."
Cordoso conceded he needed to change tactics after Kekana's dismissal.
"After we lose Grant, obviously, the game becomes much more tricky even. And the intention was to close and take it to the last stages and keep the result," he said.
"So, we don't give nothing for granted. The attitude in Pretoria has to be even stronger, even more commitment, even more tactical strictness and even more control of the match.
"And the play to win, because when you don't play to win, you can suffer. And that's the only way this team has and knows how to play. So, we need to take the game for that platform."