Miguel Cardoso walking a tightrope as Mamelodi Sundowns struggle against lowly Gomora United

Miguel Cardoso received a temporary stay of execution on Wednesday night, but only just, as Mamelodi Sundowns sneaked past lower-division side Gomora United 2-1 in a Nedbank Cup clash.

The beleaguered Portuguese manager came into the match on the back of a CAF Champions League defeat at Al Hilal, having also been held by the same Sudanese side 2-2 at home a fortnight ago. These results led to him and Sporting Director Flemming Berg running the gauntlet of angry fans.

This first-round tie against the Motsepe Foundation Championship outfit was supposed to provide Cardoso with an opportunity to appease the fans with a resounding victory prior to the weekend’s tough away trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Saint-Éloi Lupopo.

However, there is just something not right with this Sundowns team lately; even against a clearly inferior opponent whom they dominated, the Brazilians found it hard to convert their superiority into goals.

On a night when the revered Themba Zwane made the starting line-up for the first time since his injury layoff and goalkeeper Reyaad Pieterse got his first match in almost three years, Cardoso gave the peripheral players a run.

They looked like they would give the coach something to think about for upcoming matches when they took the game to Ashley Makhanya’s side, only to display some shocking profligacy in front of goal.

Katlego Ntsabeleng hit the upright on 23 minutes and then forced a brilliant save out of Sidingo Nxumalo before Peter Shalulile opened the scoring on 40 minutes, the Namibian slotting home a good cut-back from the right by Kutlwano Letlhaku.

Any thoughts that the goal would open the floodgates were swiftly dashed as Sundowns committed the equivalent of hara-kiri on the stroke of half-time. Bathusi Aubaas played a back-pass to Malibongwe Khoza, who was evidently not expecting the ball and failed with his first touch. Mpho Maoke was alert to steal the ball and smash it home past the advancing Pieterse.

Cardoso rang the changes after the break and one of those proved fruitful as Thapelo Morena headed in what turned out to be the winner, connecting with a delightful cross from the left by Jayden Adams.

The Portuguese coach lived to fight another day, with the crowd delighted by the victory and even more so with Themba Zwane’s return to action—so much so that they cheered and chanted his name as he departed the field.