By the Numbers: DSTV Premiership – Matchday 4

The is in full swing and already over 30 matches (13%) of the season has been completed in a matter of only 17 days. Most teams have played 4 games, some 5 to counter the participation of continental football later on in the season. This past weekend saw the Cape derby, Orlando Pirates host SuperSport United, Kaizer Chiefs win at home to promoted Richards Bay and the defending champions draw 1-1 to Sekhukhune United. As usual, we dig beyond the score lines to look at some of the numbers that may not have seen the public eye.

Sekhukhune United v Mamelodi Sundowns

Given how the champions put four goals past Kaizer Chiefs last weekend, many wondered how many goals Sundowns would slot past Sekhukune United – then again the home side had the fifth-best defensive record of last season. Masandawana themselves did manage to set another bar higher with some of the numbers they produced in the draw against Sekhukhune United.

Sundowns Attack

12 – shots by Kaizer Chiefs on the afternoon (2 on target)

17% – Shot on target percentage by Chiefs (their lowest in a game this season)

17% – Shot on target percentage by Chiefs (their second lowest in a game this year)

Sekhukhune

As far as Sekhukhune’s performance, this was the first time this season they faced one of the bigger and stronger teams in the league. No disrespect to Maritzburg, Golden Arrows or Richards Bay but Sundowns are just a different breed.

0.39 xG – no real surprise when you can only total together your lowest xG total to date (2022/23) when your opposition has most/all of the ball.

Sekhukhune were also totalling this amount of xG (less than 1 xG) towards the end of last season – without scoring any actual goals. One to watch in the future.

Kaizer Chiefs v Richards Bay

Kaizer Chiefs went into this game without Du Preez upfront (injury) as well as without new signing Bonfils-Caleb Bimenyimana (work permit) and had to further adjust their plan after Yusuf Maart was sent off for the last man standing challenge. They would face a newly promoted side who had been in flying form collecting 7 points in their first 3 matches.

Chiefs’ Attack

8 – the lowest shot count in matches played this season (2022/23)

50% – the least number of shots taken but the highest shot on target% conversion

1.9 xG – the highest expected goals total from the 2022/23 season so far (5th highest xG total from calendar year to date)

11 – the second highest total of opposition box entrances in 2022/23 (highest total against Royal AM – Matchday 1 (15).

The number of points (6) that Chiefs have on the board compared to four points at the same stage of the previous campaign shows the hard work that is going on behind the scenes. Furthermore, the team is collecting points at the rate of expectation based on the performances they have shown.

Cape Town City FC v Stellenbosch FC

The Citizens came into this game on the back of collecting their first point in the midweek game at home to Maritzburg United. Getting the first win on the board against your closest rivals would have been sweet but Stellenbosch came to crash the party.

Cape Town City FC Attack

14 – the number of shots taken by Cape Town City (5 on target)

14 – the second highest shot count of the season so far (joint 7th highest total in 2022)

36% – shot on target conversion rate (higher than league average of 2022/23 and also higher than team average for 2022).

1.8 xG – the highest xG count of the 2022/23 season thus far (4th highest total of 2022).

Stellenbosch Attack

20 – The visitors had 3 more entrances into the Cape Town City box than they had into Stellenbosch’s area (17).

11 – shots taken by Stellenbosch (most of 2022/23 season thus far)

11 – shots taken by Stellenbosch (4th highest total of 2022)

1.74 xG – the highest of the 2022/23 season and the second highest total of 2022 – calendar year.

Fawaaz Basadien has been an important addition to the squad and has already managed to score himself two assists in back-to-back games – first against Orlando Pirates and then against Cape Town City last weekend. The visual above shows the importance of the linkage play between himself, Junior Mendieta and Nhlanhla Mgaga.