Winners And Losers From The Weekend Action

Wonder goals, red cards, comeback wins, and four-goal thrillers were the order of the recent PSL game week. The race for second, the fight to secure a Top8 spot, and the relegation battle all saw twists over the weekend. Winners & Losers is a weekly statistical column that uses the best statistics to review the PSL weekend.

Winners

Richards Bay

Two wins in the first half of the season raised the alarm and saw Kaitano Tembo lose his job, and the mini revival by Cape Town Spurs in early January brought those fears even closer. So, the timing of back-to-back wins could not be better. It’s only the second time they have won successive league games since their promotion. The key to their recent success has been their home form:

1/7 – Richard Bay has lost just one of their last seven home league games (W4 D2 L1).

Orlando Pirates

A different victory against the same opponent they beat in the Nedbank Cup thriller earlier this month. If Pirates are to make further progress next season, not only will they have to win more matches, but they will have to find different ways to win.

Chippa United’s Solid Start To The Year

A first away win since September and three league wins on the bounce for the Chilli Boys (four in all competitions). This year, Chippa have lost just two of 11 games (one against Sundowns & one against Polokwane City). Their confidence is rising ahead of the Nedbank Cup semis.

3 – Chippa have opened the scoring in three consecutive games, something that last happened in 2016.

Sekhukhune

A sensational run that shows no signs of stopping, and further evidence of the good job being done by Lehlohonolo Seema. He’s been in charge for exactly half of Sekhukhune’s league games this season, and the team has taken 25 points in those games, nine more than they managed in as many games before his arrival.

25 – Only Sundowns (26) have won more points since Seema’s first league game in charge than Sekhukhune (25).

Asekho Tiwani

A Goal of the Season contender. Some even whispered a Puskas contender. The goals was as good as anything you’ll see this season.

Losers

Kaizer Chiefs

There is an emotionless feel to how Kaizer Chiefs’ season is coming to an end, and looking at the results shows you why. Chiefs have scored just one goal more than Cape Town Spurs this season and have now lost 10 games in the league. Only once before (12 losses last season) have they ever suffered more defeats in a single PSL campaign. The door to a Top 8 spot is still open, but even that may shut soon.

4 – Kaizer Chiefs have failed to score in four successive league games, equalling the club’s worst-ever run in PSL history (4 in a row also in 2007).

SuperSport United & Gavin Hunt

There will be no trophies at SuperSport this season, and at this rate, there will be no CAF football either. It’s now eight games in 2024 without a win, a record they share only with one other club.

8 – Eight games without a win in the league is SuperSport’s worst-ever start to a calendar year.

Cape Town City

We’ll keep it brief. No team has won fewer points in 2024 than Cape Town City in 2024 (5). Yes, even fewer than Cape Town Spurs.

Opta Jabu