Iqraam Rayners’ goal seals narrow Carling Knockout quarterfinal win

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has praised his team’s tactical discipline following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Golden Arrows in their Carling Knockout quarterfinal at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday to book a place in the semifinals.

Iqraam Rayners scored the only goal in the second half to send Sundowns through to the last four, and Cardoso expressed complete satisfaction with how focused and stable the players remained throughout the match.

“What was interesting to see is that the team didn’t escape from the plan, they were focused enough to keep on playing,” Cardoso told the media during the post-match press conference.

“I think the team was very loyal to the plan and that was very important for the coach. We were very solid and committed and I’m happy to be in the semifinal of the competition.”

Cardoso also gave an update on the injured pair of Ronwen Williams and Teboho Mokoena ahead of Sunday’s Caf Super Cup final against USM Alger.

Mokoena has missed four consecutive matches, while Williams missed three successive games.

“Look, we cannot risk the health of a player. Our role here is to protect the players and the health of the players,” he said.

“Let’s see how things will progress. Obviously we would like to have them ready for the biggest matches. I think that we have, obviously, in the team players who are doing well in those positions, whom we trust.

Williams is a similar process, so it’s not a big injury, it’s more a pathology.

—  Miguel Cardoso

“We had a big setback with Teboho, as you understood publicly. He didn’t come in, not even close to being in good condition, when he returned from the national team; he came back injured.

“It was very important that we could play him in that final of the MTN8. But then there was an unfortunate moment when he was standing on one leg. He had contact, and of course there was a small thing there on the leg, but it’s the second time, the same leg, same thing.

“Let’s see. A lot of work has been done on him. Williams is a similar process, so it’s not a big injury, it’s more a pathology. He has also been struggling, and we are doing our best to have him in proper condition.

“We need to protect these players, so I think that with a little bit of time everything will be OK.”