After the Angolan club accomplished a historic milestone by eliminating Mamelodi Sundowns from the CAF Champions League and qualifying for the group stage for the first time, head coach Beto Bianchi praised his players for their outstanding defensive performance.

After a scoreless first leg in Lubango, Wiliete advanced to the next round thanks to a 1-1 tie at Loftus Versfeld on Friday nite. The South African team did not advance. Sundowns were considered heavy favourites to win the two-leg match, therefore the result came as a shock to them.

Sundowns got off to a great start, as Tashreeq Matthews scored in the 11th minute to put his team ahead. After the break, Wiliete equalised in the 48th minute via Cristóvão "Mabululu" Paciência, who capitalised on a defensive blunder made by Cassius Mailula.

Sundowns had 18 shots compared to Wiliete's six, but they couldn't capitalise on their majority of possession. Until the very end, the Angolan visitors stuck to their defensive formation, denying their opponents several scoring chances.

The focus and self-control shown by Bianchi's squad was commendable throughout the match. He knew his team had to keep their composure, execute their strategies as directed, and defend as a unit against Sundowns' expertise.

The significance of capitalising on their few offensive chances was also recognised by the coach. While Sundowns had more shots and possession, Wiliete scored an equaliser that was the game-changer and advanced.

A huge boost for Wiliete as it gets ready for its debut participation in the Champions League group stage, eliminating Sundowns away from home is a notable accomplishment. Furthermore, the historic qualifying shows that Angola has what it takes to fight with more experienced teams on the continental scene.

However, the loss is a major letdown for Sundowns. Their elimination is the first in 11 years of CAF Champions League play, and it casts doubt on the team's ability to advance on the continent.

Source:

https://www.idiskitimes.co.za/caf-champions-league/cardoso-it-was-a-big-punch-in-our-faces/