A new Bet Central feature in the 2021/22 season will be a Statistical Winners & Losers section, highlighting some of the weekend’s highs and lows from a statistical standpoint. We continue with this weekend’s action that was.
Mamelodi Sundowns – Winner
Another test was set and yet another one was passed, providing further evidence (if any was needed) that Sundowns are the team to beat in the PSL this season. The trip to Orlando Stadium is one of the toughest tests for any team in the league. Not only did Sundowns pass with a distinction, they even showed their workings.
13 – 13 points from the opening five league games is Sundowns’ joint-best start to a PSL season (13 also in 1999/00, 2000/01 and 2020/21).
Sundowns Defence – Winner
The old cliche goes “Goals win you games. Defences win you championships”. Sundowns have played 15 league games since mid-April, and conceded goals in only two of them. Not that they haven’t been threatened – they have, but Dennis Onyango, Rushine de Reuck & co. have stood firm. Man of the Match went to Andile Jali on Saturday, but it could easily have been Onyango. Going back to the end of last season, Downs have now kept eight consecutive league clean sheets, a new club record for them in the PSL era.
5 – This is the first time in their PSL history that Sundowns have opened a league season with five successive clean sheets.
The fact that only two PSL sides in history have done this makes it even more impressive.
Peter Shalulile – Winner
By any standard, Peter Shalulile is currently one of (if not the) best player(s) in the country. One goal in four games in August had a few starting to doubt his hunger, but he’s swiftly answered those questions with four goals in three games this month. He’s not a flat-track bully either.
10 – Peter Shalulile’s goal was his 10th against the Soweto giants (5th against Pirates, as many as he has scored against Chiefs (also 5)). Celtic (6) are the only club against which he has scored more.
Benni McCarthy – Winner
Benni’s African campaign was saved last week by the unlikeliest of wins – a 3-0 triumph at Big Bullets, a side unbeaten at home in eight years. The midweek draw against Arrows reminded us that one result does not a revival make, so McCarthy would have been pleased with Saturday’s 1-0 win. He’d won just one in eight against Baroka before Saturday, so the victory was much sweeter.
Stellies – Winner
Stellenbosch FC and the Springboks sharing training facilities is not abnormal – geographic proximity, relationships etc. make this not only possible but prudent. However, the odds of the Springboks losing three consecutive matches AND Stellenbosch Football Club winning two and drawing one in the same month would have brought you handsome returns a few years ago. Could a team from the Winelands be the closest challengers to Sundowns? Who wants to bet?
Kaitano Tembo- Winners
It’s not quite title-chasing form, but a second successive win will surely be good news for Tembo and his men. It’s only the second time this year (and the first since January) that they’ve won two league games in a row. Tembo’s next six fixtures are Chippa, Baroka, Chiefs, Royal AM, TS Galaxy, Marumo Gallants. Maybe they are the closest challengers?
2008/9 – The last time Supersport had more points than they currently have (11) five games into the new season was 2008/9 (13), when they went on to win the title.
Punters Who Bet on Arrows – Winners
You want a goal for – bet on Arrows, they’re one of two teams who’ve scored in every game this season. You want goals against – bet on Arrows, they’re the only team yet to keep a clean sheet this season. You want both teams to score – bet Arrows.
100% – Both teams have scored in 100% of Arrows matches (5/5).
Thamsanqa Gabuza – Winners
Supersport are now unbeaten in 14 matches when Thamsanqa Gabuza has scored (W10 D4 L0 in 14 games when he is on the scoresheet). Gabuza is a winner this week, not because he seems to be a lucky charm, but because he reached a personal milestone on the weekend/
50 – Thamsanqa Gabuza’s goal against Maritzburg was his 50th in all competitions since he became a top-flight player (16 at Arrows, 18 at Pirates, and 16 at Supersport).
Orlando Pirates – Losers
No matter who is in the dugout, two steps forward and one step back is becoming an all-too-familiar narrative at Pirates. The Buccaneers haven’t won three games in a row since the bio-bubble – that’s over one year ago. For context, even Chiefs and Golden Arrows have managed three wins on the trot since then. There were some positives even in defeat, and having your first league defeat come against Sundowns should not be a nail in anyone’s coffin. However, they must bounce back, and fast, before Sundowns disappear into the distance.
Pirates Errors – Losers
The defeat to Sundowns will hurt because of how it came about – two goals from giving away possession. These were the 3rd and 4th goals Pirates have conceded from errors this season.
4 – Pirates have now lost 4 matches to Sundowns this year, by an aggregate score of 10-1. The last time they lost so many matches to Sundowns in the same year was 2007.
Old Guard – Losers
We touched on them last week, but it’s worth repeating again. Between them, Gavin Hunt, Ernst Middendorp, Stuart Baxter and Owen da Gama have been in charge of over 1500 games in PSL football. Between them, they won just 1 point this weekend. Is the paradigm shifting?
TS Galaxy
10 league games. One win. The only notable thing about this run is that their win came against Orlando Pirates, which may say more about Pirates than TS Galaxy. The Rockets are now the team anchoring the table, and will soon be playing catch up, if nothing changes results wise.
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