Five PSL Stats: from the weekend

4 – Yusuf Maart became the fourth player to score their very first goal for Kaizer Chiefs in the Soweto derby after David Obua (2005), Willard Katsande & Siphelele Mthembu (both 2014).

36 – Bradley Ralani became the fifth oldest player to score a league goal for Sundowns in the PSL (35y 25d), with only Daniel Mudau, Suprise Moriri, Peter Ndlovu and Hlompo Kekana scoring at an older age.

2 – Against Royal AM, Cassius Mailula became the 4th youngest player to score in back-to-back league matches fro Sundowns in the PSL.

8 – SuperSport United have opened the scoring in eight consecutive #DSTVPrem matches, their longest such run since they scored in nine consecutive games between February and May 2004.

1 – Wayde Lekay scored his first goal for Cape Town City on the weekend, joining Fagrie Lakay and Lyle Lakay as Lakay/Lekays to have scored a league goal for Cape Town City.

Lekker.

Photo: @Masandawana Twitter

PSL STATS: Sundowns near PSL record

Sundowns beat Royal AM 2-0 on Tuesday night, taking a step closer to a major PSL record. The win took Downs to 69 points with three games remaining. That leaves them just two points off the 71-point record set by Pitso Mosimane’s 2015/16 Sundowns team. Here are 5 stats from the action.

7 – Sundowns won home & away v Royal AM, their seventh league double of the season. Only 1996/97 Manning Rangers and 2015/16 Sundowns have completed more doubles in the same PSL campaign (both 8).

Sundowns can get nine.

69 – 69 points from 27 games is a new record at this stage of a PSL season. Indeed, no team has ever won more than 65 points after 27 games.

The 30-game points record is 71, while the overall PSL record s 75 points.

50 – Sundowns now have 50 league goals this season, just the 8th time a team gets 50+ in a PSL campaign since 2010.

The record for goals in a season is 56.

51 – Sundowns are now unbeaten in 51 league games, extending the PSL unbeaten record they first set in September last year.

100% – Peter Shalulile has scored at least once in every game he’s played v Royal AM (7 goals in 5 appearances), the only opponent against whom he enjoys a 100% scoring record in the league.

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PSL STATS: Five Stats from the midweek games

There were two games played during the week in the DSTV Premiership. In Pretoria, 10-man SuperSport fought back to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Polokwane City. In Polokwane, Sekhukhune needed a late goal to rescue a point against Stellenbosch . Here are five stats from the action:

5 – SuperSport United have received five red cards in the #dstvprem this season, more than any other side. Indiscipline.

17 – It’s been 17 games since SuperSport last kept a clean sheet in the league’ the longest such run in the club’c PSL history (The previous longest was 11 in 2004/5 under Pitso Mosimane).

0 – SuperSport aree yet to win a game in the league this year (P7 W0 D6 L1), a record they share only with Cape Town City (P7 W0 D4 L3). It’s also the club’s longest run without a win from the start of the year in their PSL history.

22 – Stellenbosch are unbeaten in 22 games (W14 D8, all comps since October last year), the longest unbeaten run of all top-flight teams across competitions.

Bonus

18 – Sekhukhune have won 18 points in the league in 2024, more than any other side.

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PSL STATS: Sundowns take a step closer to the title

Sundowns extended their gap at the top of the table to 14 points with a 2-2 draw against Swallows in a rearranged fixture on Monday night. The Brazilians were cruising at 2-0 just before the hour mark, but Swallows fought back to rescue a point. Here are 5 stats from that rare Monday night game.

100 – Moroka Swallows v Sundowns was the 100th league match played on a Monday in PSL history. It’s still the weekday with the fewest games overall (101 on a Thursday).

45 & 21 – Sundowns are now unbeaten in 45 league games (W34 D11), extending the PSL record for league games without a loss. Last night, they also equalled the record for the longest unbeaten run from the start of a season (21 games like 2021/22 Sundowns).

2-0 – This is the seventh time in PSL history that Sundowns fail to win a league game despite taking a 2-0 lead (D7), and only the second time this has happened under Rulani Mokwena (2-2 also May 2023 v AmaZulu).

11 – Sundown need 11 points to win the title, and a combination of the following WDL sequences will suffice:

  • P9 W1 D8 L0
  • P9 W2 D5 L4
  • P9W3 D2 L6
  • or P9 W4 at least

3 – Teboho Mokoena has scored three goals for Sundowns in the league this season, more than he managed in the previous two seasons combined (2).

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5 stats: Tshwane derby

Sundowns and SuperSport played to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday night in the DSTV Premiership. The result extended Sundowns’ lead at the top by 13 points, and also brought SuperSport joint-second in the race for a CAF Champions League spot. Here are 5 stats after that game.

Gavin Hunt reaches milestone

50 – The derby was the 50th time a side coached by Gavin Hunt faced Sundowns in the league, making him the 1st coach in PSL history to manage 50 games v a single opponent in the competition (P50 W14 D14 L22).

Downs march on

41 – Sundowns are now unbeaten in 41 league games (W31 D10 since September 2022), extending the PSL record they first set in September 2023 (the previous record was 31).

Downs set new milestone

1,600 – The Tshwane Derby draw earned Sundowns their 1,600th point in the PSL (852 games), making them the first side to reach that total in the competition.

An entertaining derby

135 – Sundowns v SuperSport is the highest-scoring fixture in the history of the PSL, with 135 goals in the 56 top-flight meetings between the sides.

Grobler nears record

110 – Bradley Grobler’s equaliser in the derby his 110th goal for a top-flight club (all comps). He is now joint-third with Daniel Mudau & Mabhuti Khanyeza for goals in the PSL era, behind only Siya Nomvethe (123) & Peter Shalulile (112)

TOP SCORERS IN THE PSL ERA – GENERAL

PlayerNationalityGoals
1Siyabonga NomveteSouth Africa123
2Peter ShalulileNamibia112*
3Mabhuti KhanyezaSouth Africa110
3Daniel MudauSouth Africa110
3Bradley GroblerSouth Africa110*

Five PSL stats: 13 December 2023

Sundowns continued where they left off, and beat Cape Town Spurs 3-0 on Wednesday night to extend their winning record, and inflict more pain on the Capetonians. In the other game, AmaZulu beat Sekhukhune 1-0 to overtake them and climb up to 10th on the table. Here are five stats from the midweek action.

Sundowns winning run

11 – Sundowns have won their 11th consecutive league game, only the third time in PSL history that a top-flight team has won 11 in a row:

🔘 2006/07 Sundowns
🔘 2022/23 Sundowns
🔘 2023/24 Sundowns

Cape Town Spurs’ problems

3 – Cape Town Spurs have won just three points in their 14 games this season, the lowest total for any team at this stage in PSL history (was 4).

Sundowns unbeaten run

35 – Sundowns have also extended their overall unbeaten league run to 35 games (P35 W29 D6 L0 since September last year).

Shalulile nears all-time record

111 – Peter Shalulile has scored his 111th goal for a PSL club (27 at Highlands Park, 84 at Sundowns all comps). In PSL history, only Siyabonga Nomvethe (123) has scored more in the top-flight.

AmaZulu’s impessive defence

7 – AmaZulu have kept seven clean sheets in the league this season, equalling their best total at this stage in PSL history (7 also in 2011/12 & 2021/22 – they finished 7th in both seasons).

STATS: 5 PSL STATS from the Tshwane derby (30 Nov 2023)

Mamelodi Sundowns returned to the summit of the DSTV Premiership standings, meanwhile establishing a new PSL record following their 2-0 triumph over SuperSport United on Wednesday night. The Brazilians were playing after a 63-day hiatus since their previous league encounter. Here are five of the best stats from the action.

9 – Sundowns have won their ninth league game of the season (out of nine), setting a new record run for consecutive wins by a top-flight side from the start of a PSL season.

110 – Peter Shalulile has scored his 110th goal for a top-flight club (27 at Highlands Park, 83 at Sundowns all comps). He goes joint-second with Daniel Mudau & Mabhudi Khanyeza for goals in the PSL era, behind only Siya Nomvethe (123)

133 – Lucas Ribeiro’s goal was the 133rd league goal scored in a match involving Sundowns and SuperSport, extending the Tshwane Derby’s record as the highest-scoring fixture in PSL history.

28 – SuperSport United have now lost 28 league matches against Sundowns, more than they have against any other opponent in PSL history (P54 W13 D14 L28).

28 – Gavin Hunt have now lost 22 league matches v Sundowns, more than they have against any other opponent in PSL history (P49 W14 D13 L22).

STATS: PSL Monthly awards

The PSL announced it’s #DStvPrem Monthly Awards Winners for August 2023 and September/October 2023 this afternoon. Sundowns’ duo Rulani Mokwena and Lucas Ribeiro scooped the August awards, while Bradley Grobler and Mabhuti Khanyeza took home the September/October prizes. Here are 5 stats to put these awards into context.

3 – Rulani Mokwena has won his third individual Coach of the Month award (also Dec/Jan and Feb/March last season).

2018 – Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro Costa is the first South American player to win the @OfficialPSL Player of the Month award since Argentina’s Emiliano Tade in November/December 2018 (for AmaZulu).

1 – Mabhudi Khenyeza has won his first Coach of the Month award, while he is the first Golden Arrows coach to do so since Clinton Larsen in August/September 2017.

2019/20 – Bradley Grobler is the first SuperSport player to win the @OfficialPSL Player of the Month award since Sipho Mbule in November 2019, while this is Grobler’s first award since August of the same season.

5/6 – Five of the last six instances where tone club has won both Coach and Players awards in the same months have included Sundowns.

2023/24AugustRibeiroMokwenaSundowns
2022/23Dec/JanWilliamsMokwenaSundowns
2021/22Feb/MarchMacuphuMadukaRoyal AM
2021/22DecemberJaliMngqithi/MokwenaSundowns
2021/22Aug/SepShalulileMngqithi/MokwenaSundowns
2020/21May/JuneShalulileMngqithi/MokwenaSundowns
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STATS: Al Ahly’s poor record in South Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns host Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Sunday

14 – Al Ahly are winless on South African soil in 14 attempts, drawing eight and losing six games away to PSL opposition since 2001).

It’s the longest run of winless matches by a team in the country, with Wydad AC of Morocco going eight matches without a win away to PSL opposition.

MOST GAMES IN SA WITHOUT A WIN

TeamCountryPWDL
Al AhlyEgypt14086
Wydad AC (Mar)Morocco8044
Al-Hilal Omdurman (Sud)Sudan6006
Horoya (Gui)Guines6042
AS Vita Club (DRC)DR Congo5023
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7 – Al Ahly have been scheduled to play Sundowns the most of all PSL sides, with seven previous visits for Masandawana.

6 – Of the six defeats Al Ahly have suffered, Downs also dominate with three wins while Platinum Stars, SuperSport and Orlando Pirates

PSL OpponentPWDL
Sundowns7340
Ajax Cape Town1010
Platinum Stars1100
Supersport Utd.1100
Orlando Pirates3120
Bidvest Wits1010
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Can they finally find a win in SA?

PSL Stats recap – 28 September 2023

Photo: @Masandawana

There were four league matches played during the week, which saw home wins for Chippa, Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns. Sundowns’ record breaking heroics will make most of the headlines, but here’s a stats recap of all the midweek action.

5 – No team has kept more clean sheets in the league than AmaZulu this season (5, joint-high). Yet, no team has failed to score on more ocassions than them (5, a league-high).

12 – Only once before have Chippa United won more points at the end of Q1 than the 12 they have won this season (13 in 2014/15 under Kosta Papic and then Roger Sikhakhane).

1 – Kaizer Chiefs came back from trailing at half-time to win a league game for the first time since April 2021 v Sundowns under Gavin Hunt. They had not won in any of the last 20 such situations in that time (D2 L18).

32 – Sundowns last night set a new outright record for the longest run without defeat in PSL history, going 32 league matches unbeaten (W26 D6 since September 2022)

16y7m9d – Aged 16 years 7 months 9 days, Siyabonga Mabena became the youngest player to score a league goal for Sundowns in PSL history, beating Siyanda Xulu’s record for the club by 478 days (set in Nov 2009).

8 – Sundowns also equalled the PSL record for consecutive wins from the start of a top-flight season (8, level with 2014/15 Chiefs under Stuart Baxter)

5 – Stellenbosch have opened the scoring five times v Sundowns since their 2019 promotion. No other side has done so more than twice.

16 – Last night, Siyabonga Mabena also became the youngest goalscorer in the league in the PSL era. He (16y 7m & 9d) surpasses Thulani Ngcepe (16y 11m & 21d in 2007) as the competition’s youngest-ever scorer (league only).

2 – Devon Titus is only the 2nd player to score a 1st half goal against Mamelodi Sundowns in the 12 months (also Ryan Moon in April).

2 – For Sekhukhune, this was only the second time they failed to win a league game they led at half-time (also v Pirates in November 2021, otherwise W8 D4 L1)

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19 September 2023: PSL STATS recap

Featured Image from: @goldenarrowsfc1

All eyes are on Orlando Pirates v Sundowns today, but there was some PSL action on Tuesday. Three games, eight goals, a red card, 10+ minutes injury time was actually a lot of drama for one PSL night. We look back at some of the key stats.

Arrows comeback

Cape Town Spurs looked like they were on their way to a first victory of the season when they led at the break. Going through the numbers showed how Golden Arrows had a terrible comeback record when playing away from home. This was the 109th occasion they went into the break behind in an away league game, and they had only won 2 of the previous 108.

3 – This was only the third time in PSL history that Arrows came back from a half-time deficit away from home to win a league game:

  • Feb 25, 2006, won v Maritzburg under Khabo Zondo
  • Apr 3, 2013, won v Chippa under Manqoba Mngqithi
  • Sep 19, 2023, won v Cape Town Spurs under Khanyeza

Arrows subs impact

Lungelo Nguse’s brace proved the difference in the comeback, meaning he has now scored in back-to-back away games. Coach Khanyeza’s decision to make the half-time was justified

5 – Arrows have now scored 5 goals from substitutes this season, more than any other side.

Away wins

It was a good evening for the traveling teams as well. All three matches played ended in victory for the away teams. This was only the 10th day in 27 years of PSL history where 3 or more matches were played on the same day, and all of them ended in away wins.

2022 – The last time this happened was on 26 February 2022, with Swallows (v Sekhukhune) also part of the sides.

Spurs still waiting for their win

1 – Cape Town Spurs are the only team yet to win a league game this season (P6 W0 D0 L6) & are the 2nd side in PSL history (after 1999 Bush Bucks) to start a top-flight season with six straight losses.

Bush Bucks had a lot of issues at the time (stadium moves), but it is important to note that they did not get relegated in that season.

Cape sides horror run continues

12 – Cape-based top-flight sides have not won any of the 12 games they’ve played across all competitions in a month (P10 W0 D1 L9, since Stellies beat Royal AM 3-1 on 18 August).

Photo: Golden Arrows