Miguel Cardoso 'not really excited' despite Mamelodi Sundowns' slim Caf Champions League quarter-final win over Esperance - 'We ran away from the plan'

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso helped Masandawana to a 1-0 win over former side Esperance in the first leg of the Caf Champions League quarter-final game staged at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Tuesday.

Namibia international striker Peter Shalulile scored the only goal for the hosts. Have a look at what the coaches said after the game, which was marred with fans' troubles at the end.

Coach Cardoso claims his players did not fully stick to what was agreed prior to the game.

“I think the first half we were not very clever on the way we had to play," he told the media after the game.

“Because the things that we knew we had to put on the pitch we didn’t. So, we ran away from the plan that we had defined that’s important to do. When you do it, it’s obvious you won’t play the game you want to play.

“Anyway, we controlled the first half, then I think in the second half we did in the first 20 minutes what we needed to do. Out of that, we got the goal, and at that moment, I felt we played what we wanted to play."

The Portuguese insists that getting a win, no matter how slim, is better ahead of the second leg.

“Then again, we went on not the best emotions and could have continued with the same style that we wanted to have in order to go for the second goal," he continued.

“But we also need to understand the game we were playing and what team we were playing.

"The tie is at half-time; we have hard work ahead of us, but it’s better to go with a 1-0 rather than a 1-1 or a 0-0. So, I’m not really excited but conscious about what have ahead and what we got," Cardoso concluded.

Visiting tactician Maher Kanzaribelieves the Beasts of Africa will get the needed result in the second leg to advance.

“It was a very tactical game, and both teams they were no kind of clear-cut occasion either for Sundowns or for Esperance,” he said.

“But you know, at some point there was like lack of concentration and they score a goal.

“But I hope that in the second leg, we do the job and get through," Kanzari concluded.

Last season, Esperance - under Cardoso - eliminated Masandawana from the Caf Champions League in the semi-finals.

Masandawana now hope to get their revenge in the ongoing campaign.

The second leg will be played on Tuesday in Tunisia.