The PSL returned to action this past weekend. Below are five standout stats from the weekend.

4 – Kaizer Chiefs have now won four consecutive away games in the league. Since their last PSL title in 2015, Chiefs have gone on a better away run just once (six games ending November 2019) under Ernst Middendorp.

Length	Ended	Coach
6 games	November 2019	Middendorp
6 games	November 2014	Baxter
5 games	January 2014	Baxter
5 games	August 2005	Dumitru/Middendorp
5 games	October 1997	Dolezar
5 games	December 1996	Walter da Silva
4 games	*5 occasions, including the current run.	Various

20 – Mothobi Mvala was the 20th different player to score a #DStvPrem goal for Sundowns in the 2022 calendar year (excl. own goals), the most different league scorers for the club in a single year across their PSL history (20 also in 2004 & 2021).

5 – Ronwen Williams has kept five consecutive clean sheets in the league, his best such run since October/November 2011, when he was at SuperSport (also 5). One more clean sheet will set a new personal best league run.

52 – Sundowns collected 52 points in the 2022 calendar year, the most of all sides. They’ve won the most points in seven of the last eight calendar years (Pirates 2018 the exception).

36y 11m 22d – Aged 36 years, 11 months & 22 days, Onismor Bhasera became the third oldest player to score a league goal for SuperSport in the PSL, after Grant Johnson (37y 19d) and Sibusiso Zuma (38y 5m & 6d).

GENERAL

0 – This is only the second time since 1990 that all the African teams have failed to win their opening game at a #FIFAWorldCup (also 2006).

44 – shots taken by African teams before the Ghana game

0 – goals from the 44 shots before the Ghana game

53 – shots taken by African teams after the Ghana game

2 – goals by African teams after the Ghana game

2 – the lowest number of goals by African teams after the opening game in a World Cup with at least three African teams (2 goals also in 2010).

⅘ – All African teams have taken more shots than their opponents except for Ghana, who were outsHot 11-9 by Portugal in their 3-2 thriller

Cameroon

8 – Cameroon have lost their eighth consecutive World Cup game (one in 2002, three each in 2010 & 2014, and one in 2022), one off the all-time record held by Mexico (1930-1958).

Ghana

0 – Ghana became the first team in the World Cup to go the entire first half without a touch in the opposition box. In the end they had 10 touches and scored two goals.

Senegal

15 – shots for Senegal in their opening game (the most of all African teams)

15 – shots by Senegal, the 6th most of all teams at the World Cup.

1 – Only Canada (21 shots) have taken more shots than Senegal (15) & Tunisia (13) without scoring

Morocco

0 – Morocco have never won their opening match at a World Cup (L-D-L-D-L-D on MD1)

0 – Morocco have never won their second match at a World Cup (L-D-L-L-L-? on MD2)

Tunisia

1 – Tunisia had one shot on target, the fewest of all African teams.

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

21y 4m 14d – Aged 21 years, 4 months & 14 days, Cassius Mailula is the second youngest PSL player to score a brace for Sundowns in the league.

1. Raphael Chukwu was 20 days younger in November 1996, netting a brace in a 3-0 win away to AmaZulu. He was 21 years 3 months & 25 days old.

2. Mailula v Maritzburg, October 2022.

3. Carlo Scott was 21 years 8 months 7 days old , scoring a brace in February 2002 v Moroka Swallows.
4. Lovers Mohlala was 21 years 9 months 21 days netting a brace in September 1998 v Wits.
5. Sibongakonke Ndlovu was 23 years 5 months and one day old when scoring a brace in February 2002 v Bush Bucks. This was the very next game, just a few days after Carlo Scott (#3).

*These stats are for Sundowns in the PSL era, covering league games only.

Photo: @Masandwana Twitter

Royal AM, Cape Town City and Sundowns were all victorious in a midweek gameday that saw many goals.

4 – The average of four goals per game is most on a single matchday with at least 3 games since April 2, 2022 when 16 goals were scored in 4 games.

1 – This was the first time in PSL history that Sundowns won an away league game by a margin of five goals.

Sundowns biggest winning margins in the league:

• 98/99 Santos 7-1 (H)
• 98/99 Vaal Pros 7-1 (H)
• 13/14 AmaZulu 7-1 (H)
• 16/17 Pirates 6-0 (H)
• 21/22 Arrows 6-0 (H)
• 97/98 Santos 5-0 (H)
• 14/15 Polokwane 5-0 (H)
• 16/17 Highlands 5-0 (H)
• 16/17 SuperSport 5-0 (H)
• 22/23 Maritzburg 5-0 (A).

2 – In Cassius Mailula and Haashim Domingo, Sundowns saw two different players score a brace in the same away league game for the first time in PSL history.

1 – Chippa have now won just one league game away to Cape-based opposition since they joined the top-flight in 2012 (P15 W1 D4 L10).

1 – Rhulani Mokwena is the first coach in Sundowns’ PSL history to win his first game in charge of the club by five or more goals. Neil Tovey & Miguel Gammondi won 5-1 v Black Leopards in December 2005.

Sep 26, 2021 – Royal AM scored three goals in a home league game for the first time since September last year.

Photo: @Masandawana Twitter

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Sundowns progressed to the next round of the CAF Champions League after defeating La Passe of Sychelles 8-1 on Friday night, and 15-1 on aggregate. The aggregate result was the second heaviest they’ve ever inflicted on an opponent in CAF knockout history, behind only the 16-1 aggregate victory over Cope d’Or in 2019/20, also from the Seychelles.

Indeed, the two results also occupy the Top 2 biggest aggregate wins for all PSL sides.

Biggest winning margins in a single game for PSL sides in CAF.

• 2019 – Sundowns 11-1 Cote d’Or🇸🇨
• 2005 – SuperSport 9-0 Red Star🇸🇨
• 2022 – Sundowns 8-1 La Passe🇸🇨
• 2022 – Sundowns 7-0 La Passe🇸🇨
• 1999 – Pirates 6-0 Botswana Defence Force🇧🇼
• 2016 – Wits 6-0 Lightstars🇸🇨
• 2019 – Wits 6-0 UD Songo🇲🇿.

5 – Five of the Top 7 biggest wins have come against teams from Seychelles.

What about the biggest aggregate wins?

Biggest aggregate wins by PSL sides in CAF two-leg ties (excl. Groups):

• 19/20 Sundowns 16-1 Cote d’Or🇸🇨
• 22/23 Sundowns 15-1 La Passe🇸🇨
• 04/05 Supersport 13-1 Red Star🇸🇨
• 05/06 Pirates 9-0 AS Port Louis🇲🇺
• 12/13 Pirates 9-0 Djabal Club🇰🇲
• 15/16 Wits 9-0 Lightstars🇸🇨

20 – Across 20 games between South African and Seychelles teams, PSL sides have won 19 times, by an aggregate score of 85-12 (D1).

Photo: @Masandawana

2019 – In losing against Maritzburg United last month & Sekhukhune today, Orlando Pirates have lost back-to-back away games in the league for the first time since September/October 2019 under Rulani Mokwena. Stung.

4 – Orlando Pirates have conceded four goals in the final 10 minutes of matches this season, more than any other side. They conceded three goals after 80+ minutes throughout all of last season. Switch-off.

100% – Sekhukhune have scored in every home game this season (5/5), the best record of all #DSTVPrem sides. Trend.

5 – No player has provided more assists in the #DSTVPrem than Iqraam Rayners this season (5). Layoff.

3 – Stellenbosch have equalled their biggest top-flight winning margin since their 2019 promotion, following two 3-0 victories last season and a 4-1 win in 2019/20. Gliding.

6 – TS Galaxy have failed to score in their last six #DSTVPrem games, the Rockets longest such run since their 2020 promotion. Malfunction.

2 – Grant Magerman has scored two goals in his last two games, having managed 2 goals in his previous 68 top-flight games. Upturn.

1 – Marumo Gallants have won their first game of the season in their ninth attempt, the last team to register a first win. Last season, they were also the last team to get a first win (MD10), doing so immediately after Dan Malesela joined the club. Déjà-vu.

17 – Maritzburg United have failed to win any of their last 17 away games (D7 L10 since September last year), the longest such run for the club in its PSL top-flight history. Woeful.

8 – Arrows have now scored 8 goals at home this season. Only Sundowns (10) have more home goals in the league.

Trendsetters

Sundowns earned their 1500th point in the PSL over the weekend, the first top-flight side to reach that total, and one of only five teams with more than 1000.

Others past 1000

Only 5 teams have passed the 1000 point mark in PSL history – namely Sundowns, Chiefs, Pirates, SuperSport and Wits.

Who got there first?

Kaizer Chiefs were the first team to 1,000 points in April 2014, followed by Pirates and Sundowns in September of the same year. Chiefs were the 1st team to 500 points in November 2004.

Who is close?

Golden Arrows (801) are the only active PSL side that is nearest to 1,000 points, but judging by recent season, it could take them another 5 campaigns to get 200 points.

100 – Sinethemba Mngomezulu’s opener for Stellenbosch v Swallows FC was the 100th goal scored in the league this season.

100% – Chippa United have scored in each away game they have played this season (5 out of 5), the best 100% record of all PSL sides.

5 – No player has been involved in more goals for Stellenbosch in the league this season than Junior Mendieta (3 goals, 2 assists).

5 – Orlando Pirates have kept five clean sheets in their opening eight league games, the club’s most at this stage of a season since 2011/12, when they went on to lift their last title.

13 – Sundowns are now unbeaten in 13 home matches against Golden Arrows (W9 D4), last losing at home in this fixture to Manqoba Mngqithi’s Arrows in October 2008.

Photo credit: @orlandopirates

Immediate response

80 – There were just 80 seconds between Thatayaone Ditlhokwe goal putting SuperSport ahead and Lucky Baloyi equalising for Maritzburg United.

Rare goal

2 – Onismor Bhasera has scored only his second league goal and his first since June 2021 vs Chippa United.

Assist King

4 – No PSL player has made more assists than Iqraam Rayners this season (4). Indeed, he has three in the last two matches.

Hunt(ing) ground

16 – Gavin Hunt remains unbeaten in league matches away to Maritzburg United (P16 W6 D10 L0 at four different clubs), extending his longest unbeaten run away to a single PSL opponent.

Veteran scorer

36y 8m 2d – Aged 36 years, 8 months & 2 days, Onismor Bhasera is the third oldest player to score a league goal for SuperSport in the PSL, after Grant Johnson (37y 19d) and Sibusiso Zuma (38y 5m & 6d).

Bonus:

0 – Maritzburg United are now winless in their last nine home league matches played on Friday nights (P9 W0 D5 L4), last winning in their final league game pre-lockdown v Polokwane City (March 2020).

Photo: @SuperSportFC