Coaches have mixed reactions after Sundowns and Pirates share points in top-of-table clash

MAMELODI Sundowns and Orlando Pirates settled for a 1-1 draw in their top-of-the-table Betway Premiership clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday — a result that left both coaches satisfied in parts, but with differing views on what might have swung the outcome.

The Brazilians took the lead through Peter Shalulile before Cemran Dansin equalised for the visitors with a superb volley. While Sundowns extended their unbeaten home league run to over a year, coach Miguel Cardoso admitted the contest fell short of expectations.

'Not the most fun' – Cardoso

"I think the match basically was what I predicted in terms of its pattern or basis – this match is played under a lot of emotions, not always the best in the players' heads from both teams," said Cardoso, according to the SABC.

"It's a derby, which is expected to be the best played matches in the league, but usually they are not exactly that, and that's what I think we had – not the most fun.

"As I see it, it was not a very beautiful match where we saw Sundowns with some dominance, but not in the last part of the pitch either.

"And the team of Orlando Pirates, in a more conservative way of playing, tried to manage the game from the beginning in terms of balance, trying to close the spaces inside and having numbers then to counter-attack, basically waiting for our mistakes."

Cardoso pointed to a lapse in positioning as decisive. "It doesn't matter who it was, but there was someone who forgot to change his positioning and then we conceded that goal, which brought some energy of Orlando Pirates, it was clear it brought some disturbance on us."

He also admitted his options were limited late in the match. "I knew that if in any moment we would have to fight for a result, I would probably not have the weapons to reinforce the front," he said.

Ouaddou: 'We should have won'

SABC Sport, however, reports that Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou felt his side had the upper hand after half-time.

"We started quite slow… we had prepared well, but I thought we were not aggressive enough to prevent them from building up," he said. "That worked because we created the most chances, and I was so happy about the second half – the way we played football and how we respected the game plan.

"To be honest, I think it's a game that we should have won, based on the physiognomy of the match, and the number of chances we created, and today I think, to be honest, it should have been a victory for Orlando Pirates."

Both coaches agreed their teams were tactically cautious, but while Cardoso emphasised balance and defensive shape, Ouaddou focused on missed opportunities and his players’ strong finish.

Looking ahead, Ouaddou downplayed any psychological edge. "To be honest, every game is different. I cannot say that we've taken a psychological step over Mamelodi Sundowns," he said.