DSTV Prem Weekend Review – Winners And Losers By OptaJabu

Every Monday, we comb through the numbers to bring out the Biggest Winners and Losers of the PSL weekend.

Orlando Pirates Timing – Winner

In matches played between the first and second legs of this MTN8 tie, Sundowns had a 100% record with an aggregate score of 16-1. Pirates had one win in four games, scoring as many goals as they conceded (3). Judging by these results, one would expect Sundowns would be the in-form side, but the case can easily be made that they were hardly tested in that run. On the other hand, Pirates were being thoroughly examined in not-so-straightforward fixtures against Richards Bay and AmaZulu. Maybe that has worked to their advantage.

Even then, Pirates’ biggest issue this season has been a lack of goals, with three goals in the last five games across all competitions. There were questions on how this blunt attack would fare against Sundowns’ good defence, but these were answered emphatically. That they could find three in one game for the first time this season is noteworthy, but three in the space of 90 pressure minutes away to the defending champions is praiseworthy. The timing could not have been more perfect:

8 – Orlando Pirates have reached their eighth Top8 final (BP Top8, SAA Supa 8, MTN8), the most finals of any PSL club.

AmaZulu – Winner

AmaZulu have reached their first Top 8 final in the PSL era & their first overall since 1976. Indeed, this will only be their second PSL-era final since the 2010 Nedbank Cup.

Anniversary Teams – Winner

Pirates are celebrating their 85th anniversary this season, while AmaZulu are celebrating their 90th. A MTN8 title would be the perfect icing on either cake.

Monnapule Saleng- Winner

If a player’s iconic status is sculpted when the pressure is on, Saleng is very close to meriting being a part of that discussion. Thembinkosi Lorch, and to a lesser extent Vincent Pule have been seen as the creative pieces in the Pirates puzzle for a while; players without whom Pirates are destined to struggle. Not only has Saleng stepped up in their absence, but he may also as well be the future of Pirates’ attacking line.

2 – Saleng is the 1st Orlando Pirates player to net a brace in back-to-back matches (all PSL comps) since Kwame Preprah & the eighth overall:

🔘Sikhosana 96/97

🔘Zuma 98/99

🔘Lota 99/00 (twice)

🔘Ndlanya 00/01

🔘Walaza 07/08

🔘Mbesuma 12/13

🔘Preprah 21/22

🔘Saleng 22/23

George Maluleka- Winner

The stone that the builders rejected is slowly becoming a cornerstone. A Man of the Match award against his former employers a day after another former employer was eliminated.

Mamelodi Sundowns – Loser

“We have a responsibility to score goals in order to make sure our complaints are a little valid… When we don’t score (the) goals, we can’t expect to win the match as well.”

Manqoba Mngqithi was quick to point out his team’s deficiencies in front of the goal in his post-match conference. The absence of both Peter Shalulie and Abubeker Nassir meant there would be no focal point for Sundowns’ attack. As such, finding goals was always going to be a tricky task. But that became even more complicated when Sundowns Sundowns made things hard for themselves by conceding the opening goal. Rewatching the goals, there were numerous defensive mistakes one could point at in each of the goals. Looking at the first goal alone, Modiba will be disappointed he let Saleng get the better of him, while de Reuck’s technique in blocking the cross also left some questions. Leaving Kermit Erasmus completely unmarked was a third, and all of this was in one phase of play. Not playing to whistle for the second goal was Sunday league stuff, and the deep line for the third was also uncharacteristic. Coach Mngqithi will point to the goalscoring responsibility, but there is a defensive responsibility that his team glaringly neglected on the day.

8 – Sundowns have been eliminated at the semi-final stage of the Top 8 for the 8th time in the PSL era, more than any other side.

Kaizer Chiefs – Loser

As he woke on Thursday morning, Arthur Zwane must have wondered just how his team got eliminated having played 30+ minutes with a man advantage in the first leg. The answer lies in an attacking performance that ranges in quality from dismal to only slightly less dismal. Zero shots on target when you need a goal in a match of this magnitude will give Zwane nightmares for days to come.

0 – This was the first time Chiefs ended a match without a shot on target since November 2020 (v Swallows FC).

Aubrey Modiba’s Indiscipline – Loser

A day to forget for the Sundowns defender is slowly turning into a season to forget.

2009/10 – Modiba is the first Sundowns player to be sent off twice in the same season since Mbhuti Khanyeza in 2009/10.

A Dearth Of Goals – Loser

13 goals have been scored in the MTN8 this season, the fewest in an MTN8 tournament (since 08/09) and the second-fewest in a Top 8 tournament in the PSL era (9 goals in 03/04, but only six games preceding the final).