Cardoso Sends Title Race Warning After Chiefs Draw Opens Door for Pirates
Miguel Cardoso has admitted that Mamelodi Sundowns can no longer afford any slip-ups in the Betway Premiership title race after Wednesday night’s frustrating 1–1 draw against Kaizer Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium.
The result handed fresh hope to Orlando Pirates as the race for the league crown enters a dramatic final stretch.
Chiefs stunned the home crowd in the 25th minute when Flávio Silva capitalised on a defensive mistake to give Amakhosi the lead against the defending champions.
Sundowns, however, responded after halftime through Brayan Léon Muñiz, whose 54th-minute equaliser rescued a point for the Brazilians in a tense and hard-fought encounter.
While Sundowns remain top of the Betway Premiership standings, the dropped points could prove significant in the context of the title race.
The Tshwane giants now sit on 65 points after 28 matches, while Pirates trail closely behind on 62 points with a game in hand after 27 outings.
Speaking after the match, Cardoso acknowledged the pressure surrounding the final weeks of the campaign and stressed the importance of collecting maximum points from their remaining fixtures.
“Regarding the league, our obligation is to make the six points we have ahead of us and then wait to see what is the outcome of that,” Cardoso said.
The Sundowns coach also warned against underestimating their next opponents, Siwelele, while highlighting the injury challenges currently affecting his squad.
“We need to approach this match with a high sense of responsibility because it will not be easy as people may imagine, especially in the sequence we are in where we lost several players through injuries.”
Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso (Image: Mamelodi Sundowns)
The draw in Pretoria has intensified speculation around a potential late twist in the title race, particularly with Pirates still holding a mathematical advantage due to their game in hand.
Sundowns will host Siwelele FC on Saturday before concluding their campaign away to TS Galaxy next Tuesday.
Pirates, meanwhile, face a demanding final schedule of three matches. The Buccaneers travel to face Magesi FC this Saturday before hosting Durban City FC the following weekend. They will then wrap up their season away to Orbit College FC.
With only a handful of matches remaining, every point now carries enormous weight.
Sundowns still control their own destiny at the top of the table, but Wednesday’s draw against Chiefs has ensured the Betway Premiership race remains very much alive.
For Pirates supporters, the result in Pretoria may feel almost as valuable as a win of their own.