Winners & Losers – PSL Matchday 20

The defending champions took another step towards the title with victory over Kaizer Chiefs, while Orlando Pirates fell to a 2-0 defeat away to Marumo Gallants.

There were wins for CAF-chasing teams AmaZulu & TS Galaxy, while Magesi got another precious three points in their battle to avoid the drop. Winners & Losers is a statistical summary of the PSL weekend.

Winners

Mamelodi Sundowns

Not the 4-goal salvo Downs have been handing out recently, but enough to take home the points against an old enemy. The game was closer than many expected, but in the end, Downs quality made the difference. Both teams had nine shots, and both had one big chance. Downs took theirs, Chiefs didn’t.

54 – Sundowns have now accumulated 54 points in 20 games, a new PSL record after 20 games of a season.

Lucas Ribeiro

In Lucas Ribeiro, Sundowns have one player that is having a magical season in front of goal. The quality of his goal left many breathless, and if it’s any consolation to their opponents on the day, no keeper in the world is saving that. The Brazilian has equalled his tally from last season with one third of the season to go, and is well on his way to the Golden Boot.

12- Riberio (18 appearances) is the fastest player to reach 12 goals in the PSL since Peter Shalulile (15 appearanaces in 2020/21).

Sekhukhune reaching the quarters

A quarter-final qualification delayed is not a quarter-final qualification denied.

AmaZulu

Since Arthur Zwane’s first game in charge, AmaZulu (29) have won more points than any other team except Sundowns. It’s impressive when you consider they lost the first two of those games. They have now won eight of their 20 league games this season, more than they managed in the competition throughout last season (8/30).

9 – Nine wins from 20 is AmaZulu’s joint-best total at this stage of a PSL top-flight season (9 also in 2020/21 when they went on to finish 2nd).

Marumo Gallants

A monumental difference in performance and result from the reverse leg. From the chalk of the 8-1 defeat in December to the cheese of a 2-0 home win. We wrote in our Betting Notebook that they are a difficult side to beat at home – only Chiefs and Sundowns have won away to Gallants this season.

Magesi fighting

There had been cause for concern in Magesi’s quality late last year, so it’s only fair to laud them for turning things around. Home form is crucial in a relegation battle, but they had not registed one until the start of February.

2 – This is the first time this season Magesi have won back-to-back home games.

Losers

Orlando Pirates depth

On the records, Orlando Pirates are enjoying an all-timer season. But as their Spanish coach put it, they are competing against a points machine.

Any team will drop form in the absence of key players, but a title challenger should cope in the absence of a few players. Thabiso Sesane has been unavailable for a while, so it was really just Patrick Maswanganyi they missed from their previous win. The games seem to be catching up on a thin group of trusted players.

33 – Pirates have played 33 games this season – only Stellebosch (36) & Sundowns (37) have played more.

Cape Town City

Four losses in a row for Muhsin Ertugral, but the difficulties have been around for a while. Since the end of August, City have won just one of of the 14 away games they have played, drawing two and losing 11. If that was not enough to see what was coming, their record against AmaZulu may have been.

10 – City have now won 10 league games against AmaZulu (D4 W2), more than they have against any other PSL team.