Cardoso praises Downs' composure

MIGUEL Cardoso credited Mamelodi Sundowns' ability to secure a positive result in their CAF Champions League quarter-final second leg away to Espérance de Tunis to his players' focus and composure in shutting out external noise and concentrating solely on events on the pitch.

- MATSHELANE MAMABOLO

The South African champions forced a goalless draw to win the tie 1-0 on aggregate, having beaten Espérance by a solitary Peter Shalulile goal in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld. They will now face defending champions Al Ahly in the semi-final. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Cardoso explained that his previous experience working at Espérance he was in charge of the Tunisian side last year when they knocked Sundowns out in the semi-finals - had proved valuable.

"It helped me to prepare the players emotionally, because I said to them we must channel our emotions in the right direction," Cardoso explained, while admitting that it had been a tough evening, with the opponents throwing everything at them, helped by a vociferous partisan crowd.