Allende Urges Sundowns to Increase Pace Against Tough Defenses

Mamelodi Sundowns’ midfielder Marcello Allende highlighted the importance of improving their ball movement when facing teams that adopt a deep defensive strategy, following their first-leg victory over Espérance Sportive de Tunis in the CAF Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The top team in the Betway Premiership secured a crucial 1-0 win against Espérance Sportive de Tunis, giving them a significant advantage as they prepare for the second leg at Stade Olympique Hammadi-Agrebi in Rades next Tuesday evening.

This victory marked a moment of redemption for Sundowns after being eliminated by the four-time African champions in last season’s semi-finals under their former coach, Miguel Cardoso.

The current coach, Cardoso, who led the team to a solid performance at Loftus Stadium on Tuesday, is now determined to guide his squad toward their third consecutive CAF Champions League semi-final appearance.

“You know how other teams act when they play in Pretoria; they usually tend to play defensively when we’re at home,” Allende noted.

“I believe we need to maintain our composure, circulate the ball more quickly, and capitalize on the opportunities when they come,” he added.

The 25-year-old also acknowledged the threat posed by North African teams during set-piece situations.

“We understand that teams from the North can be very dangerous during set pieces,” he remarked.

The victor of this clash will move on to face either Al Ahly or Sudan’s Al Hilal in the semi-finals. Al Ahly, the current champions, triumphed in their first leg on Tuesday.

Article by Kamogelo Ndlovu