Sundowns reach Champions League final after defeating Esperance
Miguel Cardoso becomes third coach to reach three consecutive CAF Champions League finals but has yet to win the trophy.
Sundowns reach Champions League final after defeating Esperance
Miguel Cardoso becomes third coach to reach three consecutive CAF Champions League finals but has yet to win the trophy.
Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the CAF Champions League final after defeating Esperance 2-0 on aggregate, winning the second leg 1-0 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday12. Sundowns will face AS FAR in a two-legged final scheduled for 15 May and 24 May12. The first leg will be hosted in Pretoria before the return fixture in Morocco12.
Coach Miguel Cardoso has now reached the final three times—once with Esperance and twice with Sundowns—joining Pitso Mosimane and Manuel Jose as the only coaches in African football history to reach three consecutive finals12. None of Cardoso's previous final appearances resulted in victory12.
"When you enter the group of three coaches, you just need to enjoy," Cardoso told media after the match1. "Everybody wants more, but I'm always very thankful for life for what it has given me."12
Cardoso cautioned against underestimating the final, noting that AS FAR had demonstrated strength comparable to Sundowns and Esperance in reaching the final12. "Whoever thinks this final will not be as difficult as this semifinal is completely wrong," he said1. "Maybe it will be more difficult."2
Brayan Leon scored the only goal in Saturday's match to send Sundowns into their second consecutive final2.