Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso believes his side’s downfall was that they played with their “heart” and left the “brain in the locker room”.

The Brazilians conceded their third defeat in the Betway Premiership after suffering a 2-1 loss at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.

Relebohile Mofokeng grabbed two early goals in the first half to double his side’s lead, while Khuliso Mudau scored a 66th minute consolation goals as Pirates held on for the win in Johannesburg.

The defeat sees Sundowns remain at the top of the league standings with 58 points from 23 matches.

Sundowns will now turn their attention to the CAF Champions League when they welcome Espérance Sportive de Tunis to Loftus Verseld Stadium in their first leg quarter-final clash on April 1.

“When you start the game like this you should not expect good things,” Cardoso told SuperSport TV after the game.

“I can only comment that we have a good reaction after the goal until 25th minute and then we played until halftime with the heart but not the brain.

“The brain stayed in the locker room and football is played with the brain. In the second half, we brought a little bit more brain on the pitch unfortunately there was a period of 15 minutes that the referee allowed not to play no one.

“Everybody falling on the ground, no football and that took out our energy. If it was a strategy, it was a good strategy because it took our energy out. We were punished at the beginning what more can I say,” he added.