Miguel Cardoso commends Teboho Mokoena's display against Marumo Gallants as the midfielder scored a brace: He showed his true character in this match

Miguel Cardoso has commended midfielder Teboho Mokoena for rising to the occasion against Marumo Gallants.

“High level players are like that, they know they have to perform all the time. I know Teboho had a moment this season when he was clearly tired and it was not an easy start for him,” Cardoso said of Mokoena.

"When you have character, you come back, and he came back with a good level."

Cardoso introduced Mokoena as a substitute and the Bafana Bafana international bagged a brace to see Sundowns beat Marumo Gallants 3-1 at Loftus Versveld Stadium.

Siphosake Ntiya-Ntiya scored an own goal which was Sundowns’ first on the Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo scored Gallants’ goal from the penalty spot in this Betway Premiership tie.

The Portuguese coach expressed happiness after the match which saw them go two points above Orlando Pirates on the PSL standings.

Sundowns now have 51 points while Pirates are on 49.

"Today I wrote something and put it up in our locker room saying, 'To where our thoughts flow, flows our energy',” Cardoso said after the game.

"I'm happy but I'm not absolutely satisfied. I saw something that is important to have in football when things don't go where you want to take them. I don't think the game was technically good at all, but we saw a hell of a fight to move in the direction of the three points."