DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Kaizer Chiefs comes out as the big winners this weekend after their late Soweto Derby win over rivals Orlando Pirates. As expected, Keagan Dolly makes the list as well as the machine that Is Mamelodi Sundowns who trounced Marumo Gallants. Check out our winners and losers from the DSTV Premiership by OptaJabu.

Supersport United – Winner

It’s appropriate that Supersport are winners given what happened in their last game. Having taken the lead against Royal AM, they went a man down before conceding two late goals to lose. The script was flipped this time around, with Matsatsantsa coming from behind to win late. They are winners not just because of the comeback, but because of its nature:

2001 – SuperSport came from behind to win over TS Galaxy after conceding the first goal in the 63rd minute. It’s the latest they have conceded the opening goal & gone on to win a league game since September 2001 v Black Leopards – a match Kaitano Tembo played in.

Kaizer Chiefs – Winner

Finally moving up, as Stuart Baxter promised. His team is starting to deliver. The full picture is 12 points from eight games, which is not too impressive. But when you zoom in and realize this is the first time Chiefs beat Supersport away from home since 2015 – that is impressive.

Stuart Baxter – Winner

A necessary victory given what has been happening at the club, but it was also one achieved to celebrate a landmark against the clubs arch-rivals. Linda Mntambo threatened to spoil Baxter’s 100th game party late on, but Chiefs still found a way to triumph thanks to a late penalty. In the process, Baxter won his first ever home derby (he had drawn the first three in his previous spell), and continued his form against Pirates:

8 – Baxter has now won eight matches against Pirates in his PSL career, more than he has against any other side.

Keagan Dolly – Winner

If the PSL Player of the Season were to be chosen today, Keagan Dolly would be a firm favourite. If the season were to end today, Dolly would be considered to have repaid every cent it costs to bring him to Naturena. Very few players justify the furore that surrounds their signing, but Dolly seems to be the exception. He became the first Chiefs player to score a brace in the derby in 10 years, but his influence goes beyond yesterday.

9 – Keagan Dolly has been involved in 9 goals in domestic competitions this season (G5 A4 in 10 appearances), only Peter Shalulile (11 GA) has more. 

Mamelodi Sundowns – Winner

The tendency was to assume that having broken the clean sheet record last week, Sundowns would relax this coming weekend, allowing Gallants a sniff. Not. A. Chance. Not only did Downs throw the relaxation idea out of the window, but they also hurled it as far as the eye can see. We’ve listed their records before, and they keep on adding onto them. In this week’s edition of Sundowns records, we have – First side to 12 consecutive clean sheets. First side to 1000 minutes without conceding. First side to 22 away games unbeaten. More impressively:

25 – Downs have won 25 points in their opening nine league games. This equals the best ever start by a top-flight side in PSL history (Chiefs 96/97, Downs 99/00, Chiefs 14/15, Downs this season).

Peter Shalulile – Winner

If Sundowns deserve praise for their unbeaten start to the season, then Peter Shalulile deserved just as much praise for his goals that ensure that most clean sheets are converted into wins. He’s been on the Winners podium before, and chances are he will be here again. His brace against Marumo Gallants means he has scored against every single club he has played at least 90 minutes against in his top-flight career except for Platinum Stars. That is some collection. It’s easy to forget that he only joined Sundowns last season, but he’s already nearing legendary status at the club:

33 – Shalulle has scored 33 goals for Downs (all comps), going past Anthony Laffor (32) to join the Top-10 goalscorer list for Sundowns in the PSL era.

Sekhukhune United – Winner

Beating Swallows in their current form isn’t going to merit enthusiastic praise, but this victory felt like a passing of guard. Swallows, who thrilled all and sundry as a new top-flight side last season, are struggling even to find a win this time around. Yet, Sekhukhune are cruising:

3 – Only three sides in the 30-game era have won more points than Sekhukhune at this point of the season (Witsb 06/07, Free State Stars 07/08 and Swallows last season).

Gavin Hunt – Loser

The biggest loser this weekend does not come from the Soweto derby, although one could be forgiven for thinking that he does. There were some caveats to Gavin Hunt’s underperformance last season, mainly his inability to sign players. Fast forward 12 months, at a new club, and he has been able to make signings. Yet, none of those have fired.

10 – Seven points in the opening 10 league games at Chippa is Hunt’s worst ever start to a top-flight season.

Orlando Pirates – Loser

Before the weekend’s derby, Pirates had the exact same number of wins (3), draws (5), losses (1), goals for (10), goals against (8), GD (+2) & points (14) as they had after nine games last season. For that symmetry to continue into a 10th game, they had to win 3-0. They were far from that.

2 – This was only the second time 3 goals were scored in the 2nd half of a Soweto derby (also May 2009).

Marumo Gallants – Loser

The only side yet to win this season. It’s one thing to lose to Sundowns, it’s another to be hammered 4-0 at home. Gallants were the 28th different side to host Sundowns since the 2010 World Cup, but the first to lose by a 4+ margin.

Cape Town City in Durban – Loser

Another visit to Durban, and yet another defeat.

0 – Cape Town City are winless in five away matches at AmaZulu in the league (D4 L1, since AmaZulu’s promotion in 2017/18) – the most they’ve faced an opponent without an away win (5 also v Bloem Celtic).

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