16 STATS From The Carling Cup Last 16

The first round of the newly launched Carling Cup took place over the last few days. A round of Cup games with a red card, penalty shootout, late goals, and shocks seems to be just what the doctor ordered for football fans just returning from the international break. We summarize the weekend with 16 of the best stats you’re unlikely to get from anywhere else. Enjoy.

It Has Been A Goal-feast 

23 – Goals scored so far in the Carling Knockout, the 3rd most in the first round of games in the tournament in PSL history.

Standard Procedure For The Buccaneers

3 – Orlando Pirates have progressed from the Last 16 in 13 consecutive League Cups (2008 onwards), the longest run of consecutive quarter-final qualifications by any side in PSL history.

Romeo Strikes Again

34 – Kermit Erasmus has now scored 34 goals for Orlando Pirates, level with Thembinkosi Lorch as eighth highest scorer for the club in the PSL era.

16 of Kermit Erasmus’ 34 goals for Orlando Pirates have come in Cup competitions. Only Sibusiso Zuma (17) scored more goals for the club in Cups.

Richards Bay Continues To Taunt Swallows 

3/4 – Richards Bay have won four games across all competitions since the 2022 Qatar World Cup, with three of those wins coming against Swallows.

Sundowns, SuperSport, and Chiefs Bow Out

2 – This is only the second time Sundowns, SuperSport & Kaizer Chiefs have all been eliminated in the 1st round of the League Cup (also 2011).

A good Omen For Pirates?

2011 – The last time Sundowns, SuperSport & Kaizer Chiefs were all knocked out in the first round, Orlando Pirates went on to win the League Cup (2011).

A Unique Record For Andre

1 – The only player to score in all three of South Africa’s major cup competitions in 2023 (Nedbank Cup, MTN8 & Carling Knockout) is Andre de Jong.

A First For AmaZulu

1 – The 1-0 win over Kaizer Chiefs is the first time in PSL history that AmaZulu won an away game in the League Cup in regulation time (P14 W0 D5 L9 before this weekend)

A First For Polokwane

1 – The 4-1 win over SuperSport represents the first time ever that Polokwane City won a game in regulation time in the League Cup (P9 W0 D4 L5 before).

A (Almost) First For Golden Arrows

1 – Arrows beat Cape Town City for the first time since April 2019, ending a run of eight games without a win against the Citizens (W0 D4 L4).

No Luck For SuperSport At Home

Nov 26, 2016 – The last time SuperSport won a home game in domestic Cups (excluding. finals) was in November 2016 – P9 W0 D5 L4 since.

And No Luck For Gavin Hunt In Cups

4 – Under Gavin Hunt, SuperSport United have been knocked out in the first round in four straight Cup competitions:

• 2022 MTN8
• 2023 TKO
• 2023 MTN8
• 2023 Carling Cup

It’s Been A While Since It Was This Bad

2001 – 2003 – This is the longest run of consecutive first-round knockouts for Gavin Hunt since a five-tournament run ending in 2003, when Swallows (3 times in 2003), Leopards (once in 2002), and Hellenic (once in 2001) were all first-round casualties under his watch.

A Formidable Stellies

1 – Since the start of last season, Stellenbosch have lost just one of nine games in Cup competitions (P9 W6 D2 L1 in regulation time).

Annus Horribilis For Kaizer Chiefs Continues

15 – Kaizer Chiefs have lost 15 games in all games since the start of 2023, the clubs’ joint-most in a calendar year in their PSL history (15 also in 2021).

Bonus Stat:

1 – Mamelodi Sundowns have won their first game away to Angolan opposition, with this coming on their fifth visit (P4 W0 D1 L3 before). Only in Tunisia (5) and Morocco (6) have Sundowns visited more often without a win.