PSL
Winners & Losers – A statistical recap of the weekend action
It was a monumental weekend in the PSL, as the title race took an unexpectedly interesting turn.
Runaway leaders Sundowns were reeled back as 2nd-placed Orlando Pirates won 2-1. Elsewhere, Stellies edged Sekhukhune in what we dubbed a potential CAF playoff, but there was yet another defeat for Kaizer Chiefs, who are chasing some unwanted records. Winners & Losers is a statistical recap of the weekend action.
Winners
Orlando Pirates
“…still a long way to go…” – Jose Riveiro when asked about the title race.
As a neutral, there is plenty to enjoy about the Orlando Pirates’ victory. A win for Sundowns would have effectively sealed the 2024/25 title race. As it stands, things are likely to go to the final month of the season.One of the positives about Pirates in recent seasons is the sense that the club is finally pulling in the right direction. With a three-year contract nearing an end, some supporters are worried about the future of the man largely responsible for this transformation. Understandable, as he is setting a high bar this season.
14 – Pirates have won 14 games this season (P19), as many as they did throughout last season (P30).
Relebohile Mofokeng
This victory ended a 5-year, 10-game winless run against the Brazilians in the league, and it was a 20-year-old’s brace that ensured the end of that torment.
5” – Mofokeng’s two goals in the opening five minutes represent the quickest brace by a Pirates player in PSL history.
Magesi
The mood among Magesi supporters was one of resignation following a 10-game winless run after their Carling Cup final. But three consecutive home victories have reversed that.
15 – Magesi has won 15 points since the end of that winless. Only Sundowns & Galaxy have won more.
TS Galaxy
In Sead Ramovic, TS Galaxy lost the current second-longest serving coach in the PSL. But in Adnan Beganovic, they had the assistant coach that would ensure the transition was seamless. So far, so good.
33 – Galaxy have won 33 points since Beganovic’s first game in charge, with only Sundowns (40) winning more.
Stellenbosch
Stellies have struggled for consistency this season in the league – they are yet to win back-to-back games. One thing they have got right, however, is their away form.
4 – Stellies have won four consecutive away league games for the first time since their top-flight promotion.
Richards Bay
A crucial win against a big side that takes them away from danger.
6 – Richards Bay are unbeaten in their last six home league games (W4 D2), their joint-best run since promotion.
Losers
The Two Cities
The two current longest winless runs in the league belong to Cape Town City (9 games) and
Polokwane City (7 games). The latter have overperformed for a while, so a blip is forgivable. But for the former, who made coaching changes to “fix” things before this dip, the situation is more concerning.
10 – Cape Town City are winless in their last 10 games. Only once before have they gone on a longer winless run (11 games ending May 2024).
Kaizer Chiefs
“We are in this position because we lose too many points like that. We control the game, we create chances, but don’t score.” – Nasreddine Nabi.
This was a quote from last week, but the statement rings true after Sunday’s result as well. Chiefs had 22 shots, their most in a game without scoring this season.
9 – Chiefs have lost nine of their 22 league games this season, the club’s outright most at this stage of a PSL top-flight campaign.