Nedbank Cup: Cardoso defends Lucas Suarez after error in Sundowns defeat

Photo Credit - Mamelodi Sundowns Media.

Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso defended defender Lucas Suarez after his mistake allowed Kaizer Chiefs to level and eventually win their semifinal clash of the Nedbank Cup 2-1 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

The Brazilians went into the half-time break leading 1-0 courtesy of a free-kick from Teboho Mokoena. However, Wandile Duba capitalized on a mistake by Suarez to put Amakhosi level before Ashley Du Preez came off the bench to score a dramatic last minute winner.

Speaking after the game, Duba said their target was on Suarez to try and score but in his response a fuming Cardoso pointed out that Sundowns had lost the game as a team and not because of an individual.

“Look, I don’t see the things like that,” the Sundowns coach said at the post match presser as quoted by idiskitimes. “We come from a high-level match on Wednesday where Lucas made a wonderful performance. As you know, he was lined up on the team of CAF Champions League of the week. So I think it’s not fair. Even today, he made one mistake, but he made a normal game. He coped with the speed, tell me, a shot on the goal coming from a play that was his structure from shifts.

“I don’t remember any, but maybe you do. I just ask you to be fair with the people, with the players, with myself, with the team, with the squad and the club. Analyze the things as they are, it’s your job to do it. Just pick the results, look how it came from, and don’t punish a player that doesn’t deserve. Obviously, he has already on his shoulder enough weight to carry that he doesn’t need to receive from you, because the boy is doing his job and trying to make his best as everybody.”

Chiefs will face Orlando Pirates, who beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 in the other semi-final, in the final of the domestic competition at Moses Mabhida Stadium on 10 May.