PSL Weekend Roundup: Winners & Losers

Orlando Pirates were crowned the 2024 MTN8 champions on Saturday night following a come-from-behind victory over Stellenbosch. The Buccaneers trailed early to a Lehlogonolo Mojela goal but fought back to win 3-1 late on. Substitute goals from Tshegofatso Mabasa and Relebohile Mofokeng added to Monnapule Saleng’s equalizer. Stellenbosch, meanwhile, will feel aggrieved by the decision to let the second goal stand, as Pirates took a quick, decisive free kick far from where the foul occurred. Winners & Losers is a statistical review of the weekend’s action.

Winners

Orlando Pirates

Pirates have won the Top 8 for the seventh time in the PSL era, the most of any team. Overall, this is their 13th title since the tournament’s inception in 1972, trailing only Kaizer Chiefs’ 15 titles. Along the way, they became the first team to win three consecutive Top 8 titles since the tournament began. Another cup final, another night to remember for the Pirates’ faithful. That’s five straight final wins since the heartbreak in the 2022 CAFCC final, and several finals before that.

5 – Orlando Pirates have won each of their last five cup finals, the best such run by a PSL side since Kaizer Chiefs won seven in a row from 2004 to 2010.

Pirates’ Fighting Spirit

Having won the quarter-finals 3-1 after extra time, and the semi-final 3-1 on aggregate, it was fitting to win the showpiece 3-1. But they certainly made it complicated for their fans. Lehlogonolo Mojela’s bicycle kick goal could easily be filed under “worthy of winning a cup final.” However, if there is any downside, it would be that it came too early, allowing Pirates to regroup, especially in the second half, to mount yet another cup final comeback.

3 – Pirates have conceded the first goal in three of their last four cup finals but have gone on to win the game.

Jose Riveiro

He doesn’t like being called a “cup specialist,” but the emotional outburst at the final whistle showed how much the victory meant to the Spaniard. Riveiro has won five trophies in his two years and three months with Orlando Pirates, the most by a coach with the club since Tony Sanderson also won five between 1973 and 1974 (including a league title). Three of Riveiro’s five trophies have been Top 8 titles, tying him with Stanley Tshabalala for the most Top 8 titles by a coach. Tshabalala won the BP Top 8 in 1978 with Pirates and in 1988 and 1990 with Sundowns. However, Riveiro stands alone in one regard:

1 – José Riveiro is the first coach to win the Top 8 (BP/SAA/MTN8) with the same club on three separate occasions in the competition’s 50-edition history (since 1972).

Monnapule Saleng

Before the game, bookmakers gave Orlando Pirates a 50% chance of winning, while Stellenbosch started at 27%. At 0-1 down and with Sage Stephens in excellent form, the odds must have shifted closer to a Stellies win. But when Monnapule Saleng equalized, the writing was on the wall.

100% – Pirates have won all 20 games in which Saleng has scored (25 goals in all competitions), maintaining the best 100% win rate when scoring by any player at the club in PSL history.hifted closer to a Stellies win. But when Monnapule Saleng equalized, the writing was on the wall.

Sage Stephens

17 – Stephens made 17 saves in the tournament, more than any other goalkeeper. His 80% save percentage is also the highest among goalkeepers who played more than one game.

Losers

Officiating

When the match officials are the biggest talking point at the end of a game, chances are something went wrong. Last week, the biggest game of the season was marred by refereeing controversy that was debated for days. A week later, the first cup final of the season is likely to follow the same path. It wasn’t just one bad decision during the game, but a series of errors, including potential offsides, that culminated in a major bad call at the very end. The brilliance of the players—from Stellenbosch’s goalkeeper and their young midfielders to Thabiso Sesane, Monnapule Saleng, and Riveiro’s substitutes—should be the focus, not the officials.