Winners And Losers From The Weekend Action

The race for a CAF Champions League place had further twists and turns this past weekend as both Stellenbosch and Orlando Pirates stumbled. There were big wins for Moroka Swallows and Richards Bay, while Sundowns reached a landmark 50th unbeaten game. Winners & Losers is a statistical review of the domestic football weekend.

Winners

Sundowns

Sundowns’ unbeaten run in the league has now reached 50 matches, a sequence that has never been bettered in the history of South African football. They have played 52 games this season, and the heavy legs are starting to show. One thing we’ve noticed is the increase in the number of crosses in recent weeks. The two top instances where Downs have made more than 20 crosses in a game have come this month. Five of the top six instances have come this year. It’s a thin read of data to suggest an intentional change in approach, but there is a feeling that results matter more than performances at this stage.

5 – Sundowns need six points in their last four games to set a new record for points in a 30-game PSL season, while 10 points would help them set an overall PSL record.

Moroka Swallows

A first home win for the year, and a first home clean sheet since November. Swallows were still part of the playoff scramble, but this win puts some daylight between them and others.

20 – Swallows are the first team to beat Stellenbosch since Sundowns in September 2023.

The Strikers Union

The goal for Shalulile takes him to 115 for a PSL club, just eight behind Siya Nomvete’s 123-goal record.

Only 15 players in PSL history have scored more league goals than Gabadiho Mhango (65).

Victor Letsoalo has scored more goals against Kaizer Chiefs than he has against any other opponent in his PSL top-flight career (7).

Richards Bay

A professional performance from the Rich Boyz saw them win a crucial three points on the day. They are now safe from automatic relegation, but not just that – they are still in contention to avoid the playoffs.

13 – Only Stellenbosch (15), Pirates (16) & Sundowns (20) have won more points than Richards Bay since April (13).

Stellies Into Africa

Stellenbosch lost a league game for the first time in 20 matches, last losing in the competition to Sundowns in September 2023 (W12 D7 in between). However, other results meant they are now guaranteed a CAF spot for next season.

22 – Stellenbosch are the 22nd different PSL club to represent South Africa in continental football.

Losers

Cape Town Spurs

Under different circumstances, a point away to a Top 8 side playing with a man down for most of the game would be seen as an important point. But when you’re staring relegation in the face, a point is insufficient. A short-lived adventure in the top-flight has officially come to an end. While relegation is a certainty, Spurs will have other records they want to avoid.

3 & 2 – Only three teams in the 30-game PSL era have finished the season with less than 20 points, while only two have lost more than 20 games in a season.

SuperSport United

Unless Golden Arrows make up a 13-goal deficit in the last two games, Matsatsantsa are guaranteed a Top 8 position. But for a season that promised so much at the beginning, Top 8 is mere consolation.

2 – This is the second time this season SuperSport Utd faced an opponent that had a man sent off in a league game (76 mins today; 50 mins v AmaZulu in August). Both matches ended 0-0.

Orlando Pirates

After Stellies fell to Swallows earlier in the day, Pirates had the opportunity to get a firm grip on second place. But they failed to take advantage. It was a frustrating day for the Bucaneers, whose domination of ball possession did not translate to goals.

591 – Pirates completed 591 passes against Richards Bay; their most in a league game this season.

PSL Officiating

The powers that be will tell you that officiating has improved this season. But when refereeing errors are becoming a weekly occurrence in the division, it becomes harder to agree. The clamours for VAR keep growing louder, but as we’ve seen in England, unless the officials improve in their decision-making, even VAR won’t solve these issues.

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