Cardoso happy Santos has found his ‘smile’ again

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has expressed satisfaction that Nuno Santos has found his "smile" again after the Portuguese midfielder's standout performance in their recent 2-1 victory over Al-Ahli Saudi in the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. The 26-year-old Santos, who had only started once before Saturday's match, scored twice with headers in each half, helping the Brazilians secure the FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup and advance to the next round.

Cardoso acknowledged that Santos had endured a difficult start to the new season, with only one start before Saturday's encounter. He also noted that the Portuguese had become disillusioned with life in South Africa, particularly following the departure of compatriot Miguel Reisinho at the beginning of the campaign. However, Cardoso revealed that talks had taken place with Santos prior to the match, with the player promising to give the team the support it needed.

At half-time, Cardoso challenged his players to step up their performance, and the team responded with a strong finish, ultimately winning the match. The victory puts Sundowns in a favorable position as they await the winner of the match between Toluca and the 2026 Copa Libertadores champions, with a potential final against Paris Saint-Germain.