Miguel Cardoso pleads for more 'time' as 'not everything was perfect' in Mamelodi Sundowns' win over Raja Casablanca and Ricardo Sa Pinto feels robbed - 'It was a goal, it's not fair for us'

Mamelodi Sundowns collected their first victory in the 2023/24 Caf Champions League group stage after defeating Raja Casablanca 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Iqraam Rayners once again proved to be the match-winner, continuing his excellent form for the Chloorkop-based side.

The win has moved Sundowns to five points from three games in Group B, with coach Miguel Cardoso expressing his satisfaction with the result.

However, he acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in the competition, highlighting the need for continued improvement.

Despite the win, Cardoso emphasized that managing emotions, especially in tense moments, has been difficult, but he was pleased with the team's commitment.

On the other hand, the visiting Coach Ricardo Sa Pinto felt that his side deserved a point in the clash as he felt they were robbed of a goal.

"Very important obviously. I believe now we are more comfortable, but still have a lot to go. This will be a very open group, a very tough one. We know our responsibility, but we know how tough it will be. So today was important. Emotionally difficult to manage. I felt a little bit of anxiety," said Cardoso after the game.

"A lot to work on in the future. We need to grow a lot, but happy about the commitment. That is the base for that growth. So congratulations to the boys. Congratulations to our fans. Our sky's our limit. I believe hard work can pay off, but we need a lot to grow.

"Obviously not everything was perfect. Many details that we can do better. We need time, and to have more time is to keep on winning. So important one."

"It was a difficult match for us and for them—two strong teams who want to play and fight to win the game. Of course, we know that playing here in some towns with this weather and temperature is not easy. But I think a draw would have been the fair result," said Pinto.

"We scored a clean goal, and it's unbelievable that it was not allowed. At this level, the Caf Champions League, we don't have VAR, and this is something that could have changed the outcome because today, with VAR, that would have been a goal. It's not fair for us because we are one of the teams contributing goals in this championship," he continued.

"We have our dream, but today we were not allowed to achieve a better result. Of course, we still have three games left and nine points to play for, so everything is possible, but it's difficult for us," he concluded.

This victory gives Sundowns a crucial win in their Caf Champions League campaign, helping them stay unbeaten and ensuring knockout qualification remains within their grasp.

Coach Cardoso can now feel some relief and confidence after removing the pressure of not securing a first victory.

The three points also mean Sundowns can continue to build momentum in their quest for continental glory.

The club remains in a tough group, but this win sets a solid foundation for future matches.

The Portuguese's leadership was key to this victory, proving that the team was growing under his guidance. Moving forward, they aim to keep building on these results.

The focus now shifts to domestic matters as Sundowns face Stellenbosch in a crucial PSL clash.

With Stellenbosch having previously knocked Sundowns out of the MTN 8, there will be a strong desire for revenge in the upcoming game.

Although it’s a league match, defeating Steve Barker and his side would boost morale and help the team build momentum after their Caf win.

Sundowns will need to maintain their winning streak to reclaim the top position in the league standings.

Cardoso knows that every game, domestically and continentally, is an opportunity to continue their progress. This next match provides an opportunity to send a message to the rest of the league.