What prevented a victory? Cardoso comments on the draw with Pyramids

In the first leg of the CAF Champions League final between South African side Mamelodi Sundowns and Egypt's Pyramids, everything seemed to be going the hosts’ way—until a dramatic twist in stoppage time changed the course of the match. Walid El Karti netted the equalizer in the 94th minute, silencing the crowd at the Pretoria stadium.

The Brazilians' coach, Miguel Cardoso, admitted that his team dropped too deep in the closing stages, which the opponent capitalized on. He also lamented the pitch conditions, saying it hindered his side’s usual style of play.

I was not satisfied with our performance in the last 10 minutes—we sat back too much. Of course, it’s disappointing to concede so late, but we can score in Cairo and win the second leg there. Pyramids’ midfielders played very aggressively, and that’s something we’ll have to counter in the return match. I’m not looking for excuses, but the pitch was very slippery and didn’t suit our style at all,

The return leg will take place on June 1 in Cairo. Mamelodi will be aiming for their second title in the competition, while the Egyptians are dreaming of a maiden CAF Champions League triumph. After the final, Sundowns will shift their focus to the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, where they’ll face Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, and Korea’s Ulsan.