By The Numbers: PSL Midweek Review

Kaizer Chiefs beat Marumo Gallants 1-0 on Wednesday night to continue their impressive PSL campaign. The Glamour Boys have lost just once all season, and last night inflicted Marumo’s first home defeat of the campaign. The result propelled them up to second on the league table, above Orlando Pirates, who will play catch up on the weekend. On Tuesday, it was Sundowns’ late show that saw them win 2-0 over Sekhukhune at home. We review the action, with five statistical narratives that emerged from the midweek games.

1. Lebogang Maboe finding his feet at Chiefs

Having started the season on the treatment table and then spent a couple of games on the bench, Lebogang Maboe has been almost faultless since his recall. This is only his fifth league game at Chiefs, but he is cementing a reputation as the perfect foil to Chiefs’ flawless defence.  He was named Man Of The Match here after a solid display in midfield. Not only was he the only player on the field to win possession more than 10 times last night (11), Maboe also had more successful passes (32) than any of his teammates, with nine of those ending up in the opposition final third (joint-most). His offensive output was also impressive.

2 – No Chiefs player created more chances (2) and had more shots on target than Mabnoe in this game (1).

2. Sundows leave it late, but flourish

A nervy evening in Pretoria, but it was always going to end one way. They may have taken a while to get going but Sundowns dominated proceedings from midway through the first half, and never looked back. By the end of the day, Downs had pummelled 19 shots at Sekhukhune’s goal, their most in a game this season.

Four of these shots came from big chances they created, which is also a season high for the Brazilians. This is the first time in PSL history that Sundowns scored 2+ goals after the 90th minute in a league game. Teams scoring multiple times after the 90th minute is a rare feat across 30 years of PSL history.

10 – This is only the 10th time in PSL history a team scored 2+ goals in second-half injury time.

3. Kaizer Chiefs fans dreaming at the halfway stage

At the halfway stage of the season, Chiefs have already won as many games as they did throughout last season (W8). Given the manner in which last season was a slog, celebrating as many wins in half the time is justifiable. Chiefs have won 30 points from their 15 games, their best total at the halfway stage of a season since 2019/20 (35 under Ernst Middendorp). This is only the sixth time in the 30-game era they have averaged 2-points per game at this stage. The omens are looking good for Chiefs fans, if not for a title, then at least for a top two finish.

1 or 2 – Chiefs have never finished the season below second in a season where they have 30+ points at the halfway stage.

4. The Peterson wall stands

Ask Brandon Peterson himself, and he will tell you that clean sheets are a collective team effort. Yet, he still faced seven shots in this game (three of them on target), and made three saves. Last week we celebrated him becoming the quickest goalkeeper in Chiefs’ history to reach 10 clean sheets. This week, he’s onto another milestone – becoming only the second goalkeeper in PSL history (all teams) to reach 11 clean sheets at the halfway stage of a 30-gae season. While collective eyes will be set on big trophies, few can blame Peterson for casting one eye on individual glory.

18 – The PSL record for clean sheets in a season is 18.

4. The Peterson wall stands

It is interesting that Sekhukhune and Marumo Gallants were the two teams that beat Orlando Pirates in the first week of the season. Eric Tinkler and Alex Laffite will remember those memories fondly, because things have taken a turn in the last few months. These two stats tell the whole story.

1 – Marumo Gallants have won just one of their last 14 league games (P14 W1 D6 L7 since August)

1 – Sekhukhune have won just oneof their last 10 games in all competitions (D4 L5).