DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Check out our winners and losers from this past weekend’s DStv Premiership action by OptaJabu.

Baroka – Winner

Baroka had gone into this weekend’s game with the distinct possibility of automatic relegation staring them in the face. Instead, they produced one of their best performances of the season and lived to fight another day. Baroka scored three goals in a league game for the first time this season, while the scoreline is their joint-best in a league game since their 2016 promotion. The timing could not have been better. 

Many will point to the two penalties they received in the opening 30 minutes – the first was clearly a refereeing mistake, but the second looked spot on. But they deserve praise, particularly for how they have taken the game to the opposition in recent weeks. In the last eight matches, they have opened the scoring in five of them. That’s more than they managed in the first 21 games of the season (4 openers). And they’ve also started to hold on to those leads.

3 – Baroka are unbeaten in 3 matches, their longest such run this season.

The PSL Relegation Battle – Winner

Thrilling is an adjective that may be used to describe Sundowns the team, but it would not feature on a list to describe the PSL title race. Sundowns sealed the title with 4 games to play – even then the writing was on the wall as early as Christmas. If you’re a local football fan and seeking excitement and tension, the relegation battle is proving to be the place to go. With one game to play, any of TS Galaxy, Swallows or Baroka can end up bottom of the table, and any of them can end up in 14th.

The Top 8 Battle – Winner

This is turning out to be another closely fought contest. Supersport passed up the chance to seal a Top 8 spot on the weekend and will have to do it the hard way when they face Pirates in their final game. Arrows are the other side that can still make the Top 8, with the two teams level on points.

100% – Supersport are the only club to have been in the Top8 since 2001.

Stellenbosch – Winner

A first-ever win for Stellenbosch against Sundowns, and it was well deserved. They are guaranteed a Top 8 spot, and only have a slim chance to qualify for CAF, so you’d think Steve Barker’s men had nothing to play for. Think again. They took advantage of some sloppy Sundowns defending, with Sage Stephens complementing that with some fine saves on the other end.

2 – Sundowns have won against 14 different teams this season, with Cape Town City and Stellies the only sides they’ve failed to win against.

Chiefs – Winner

One game to play this season, and Chiefs will still be able to finish 2nd. Not bad for a “disastrous” campaign.

Du Preez – Winner

His first brace since Stellenboch became a top-flight club.

13 – No player has scored more goals in all competitions for Stellenbosch than Ashley du Preez since their 2019 promotion (13).

Orlando Pirates in CAF – Winner

Pirates conceded a late goal which ended their run of clean sheets in CAF (Pirates had not conceded a goal at home in the competition this season). But it was too little too late for the Libyans.

4 – Pirates reached their 4th CAF final (1995 ACCC, 2012/13 CAFCL, 2014/15 CAFCC and 2021/22 CAFCC excl. Super Cups), more than any other South African side.

Sundowns – Loser

Sundowns had a chance to finish the season with an unbeaten home record for the first time in their PSL history. Sloppy defending brought that dream to an end, as they suffered a humbling 3-0 defeat to Stellies. While they’ve sealed the title already, such defeats still matter because they can disrupt momentum ahead of their Cup final.

TS Galaxy & Swallows – Loser

A win for TS Galaxy would have ensured safety, and a win for Swallows would have ensured some breathing space ahead of the final game week. Baroka’s win now reels everyone back in for a tense finish in the relegation battle.

A Lack of Goals – Loser

45 – Altogether, 45 matches have ended 0-0 in the league this season, extending the new record for goalless draws in a single PSL campaign.

Poor Fans – Loser

Allowed back in the stadium in the last few weeks after a long wait, PSL fans must feel underwhelmed by the lack of goals.

5/7 – Of the seven matches played this weekend, only two of them saw the home side scoring.