Five Statistics: PSL Matchday 25 and CAF

Sundowns reached a historic fourth Champions League final on Saturday afternoon, while Orlando Pirates went top of the table in their absence. Alongside them, Stellenbosch and Magesi were the other big winners on a weekend that saw a new name at the top and bottom of the table. There are concerns ahead of the Soweto derby for Kaizer Chiefs following a lacklustre 0-0 draw away to Polokwane City. However, they still managed to extend their unbeaten run to six games. Five statistics picks five key narratives from the weekend action.

Sundowns reach historic final

The Brazilians recruited Miguel Cardoso in the middle of last season, hoping to lean on his pedigree to secure them the much-coveted second star. For the second year running, the Portuguese coach has led them to the final, with the hopes of turning last year’s silver into gold. For Cardoso, this is his third consecutive final (including one with Esperance), and a season that looked shaky in the first half could be filled with unprecedented glory at the end. In Brayan Leon, Downs have a striker good enough to deliver against the continent’s best.

1 – Leon is the first-ever PSL player to score in both legs of a CAF Champions League semi-final tie.

Pirates’ goalscoring keeps race alive

Despite being top of the table, Orlando Pirates fans remain cautious. Sundowns are in fine form domestically, but you have to give Pirates credit for the way they have improved their attack in the second half of the season. Ouaddou’s team went from 1.5 goals per game in the first half of the season to 2.4 goals per game in the second. They are no longer dependent on a solid defence to eke out narrow 1-0 wins, but the attackers have freedom to score, ensuring opposition teams have to score at least twice to stand a chance against this side.

50 – This is the first time Orlando Pirates have scored 50+ goals in a single league campaign since 2004/05 under Kostadin Papic (52).

Kaizer Chiefs’ resurgence halted

By any stretch, a draw away to Polokwane City is not a bad result. Kaizer Chiefs have only ever won twice in 10 visits to Polokwane City. Yet, the 0-0 leaves a bitter taste given that it ended a five-game winning run for Chiefs. They are still seven points ahead of the team chasing them for third, and with a game in hand, that matter looks settled. It would take a monumental collapse for Chiefs not to make the Top 3 now, but the one concern would be dropping points ahead of the derby. Plus, Chiefs were far from convincing, and on another day could have lost to a more clinical side

16 – Polokwane City managed 16 shots in this game, the most any team has managed against Chiefs in a game in any of the last two seasons.

Stellenbosch move closer to Top 8

At the time of Gavin Hunt’s appointment, Stellies were in 14th place, just two points above the relegation zone. Ten games in, that decision seems to be bearing fruit. Not only are they out of that melee, but they now have their eyes firmly set on a Top 8 spot. Stellies have lost just one of the 10 league games under Hunt, collecting an impressive 19 points from a possible 30. Extrapolate that over a full season, and you’re looking at a 57-point campaign. Historically, 50 points has been their peak.

+2 – The 3-1 win over Sekhukhune United was Stellenbosch’s biggest winning margin in a league game this season, and their biggest overall since May last year.

Magesi in five-star showing

After Orbit College and Marumo Gallants dropped points, the door was opened for Magesi to finally lift themselves off the bottom of the table. A narrow 1-0 win would have been sufficient for that cause, but instead Magesi turned on the style and ran out 5-2 winners over Durban City. It is even more impressive when you consider that Durban City are no pushovers. Only once this year have they conceded more than once in a game, and only Sundowns have scored more than two against them at any point this season. A statement win for the relegation scrap.

5 – This was Magesi’s biggest-ever win in the top-flight, since their promotion last season.