PSL Stats Leaderboard: 10 stats from the PSL season

We continue our international-break review of the PSL by looking at the standout teams this season. Sundowns and Orlando Pirates remain locked in a neck-and-neck title race, and this intriguing battle has understandably shaped the narrative so far. Going into the break, Orlando Pirates are in the driving seat, two points ahead. However, the Brazilians have a game in hand over the league leaders, and with that, control their own fate. Part 1 of the Stats Leaderboard covered standout players in the league. Part 2 of this analysis focuses on the standout teams.

Ball Possession

Once again, Sundowns are the league leaders when it comes to ball possession. The Brazilians endured a stop-start first half of the season, but have reasserted their authority on matches since the turn of the year. They failed to string together three consecutive wins before December, but have responded with an eight-match winning run, the best streak of any team all season. That run has also featured matches where they saw more than 75% of the ball.

Top five teams for ball possession:

• 72% – Sundowns
• 59% – Kaizer Chiefs
• 58% – Orlando Pirates
• 51% – Golden Arrows
• 50% – Sekhukhune United, Stellenbosch

Shot-Taking

In the first half of the season, Kaizer Chiefs registered the highest shot volumes in the league, but that has shifted in recent months. Orlando Pirates now top this metric, despite not having a single dominant shooter. Instead, by design or by default, the shot-taking has been spread across the team. Midfielders, and at times defenders, have contributed, and the shooting volumes indicate a system with many points of attack.

Top five teams for shots taken:

• 367 – Orlando Pirates
• 298 – Kaizer Chiefs
• 292 – Sundowns
• 258 – Richards Bay
• 250 – Polokwane City

Top five players for minutes per goal:

• 101 – Iqraam Rayners (Sundowns)
• 114 – Brayan Leon (Sundowns)
• 120 – Sede Dion (Arrows)
• 123 – Tshegofatso Mabasa (2 clubs)
• 123 – Flavio Silva (Kaizer Chiefs)

Distribution of goals

While Sundowns may not lead the shot and goal count this season, they lead in goalscoring variety. The departure of Lucas Ribeiro Costa at the beginning of the season raised questions about where Sundowns’ goals would come from. Iqraam Rayners (10) has stepped up, and is in contention for the league-wide Golden Boot. Yet, he has been ably supported by other players in the frontline, namely Tashreeq Matthews and Brayan Leon, who have four goals each. Orbit College is a surprise mention here, as they have also seen more than 10 different players find the net.

Top three teams for number of scorers:

• 13 scorers – Sundowns
• 12 – Orlando Pirates
• 11 – Orbit College

The best defences

A cursory glance at the table will show that Orlando Pirates have conceded the lowest number of goals this season (9). A deeper search will show that they lead the league in clean sheets (15) and, as a result, their goalkeeper is the leading candidate for the Golden Glove award. Pirates have allowed the fewest shots against them as well, indicating a well-drilled defensive unit beyond just the goalkeeper. Yet, looking at Expected Goals against (a metric that measures the quality of chances conceded), reinforces the idea that they have the best defence. 

Top five teams for Expected Goals conceded:

• 9.6 – Orlando Pirates
• 12.8 – Kaizer Chiefs
• 15.9 – Durban City
• 16.4 – Mamelodi Sundowns
• 19.9 – Siwelele FC

The most unfortunate teams

As the league trudges slowly towards the lowest-scoring campaign in PSL history, many will wonder how we got here. Defences have been solid, and goalkeepers have made some outstanding saves. But, equally, strikers have been inefficient in front of goal and wasted numerous openings. That said, there are instances where players have done well to get shots off, and ensured they are beyond the goalkeeper’s reach. Only for the ball to fall a few centimeters short and strike the woodwork.

Top five teams for hitting the woodwork:

• 11 times – Richards Bay
• 9 – Marumo Gallants, Polokwane City
• 8 – Golden Arrows, Orlando Pirates