Champions and Strugglers - Pakistan Super League
Down 'n Dirty With Sundowns' Dominance
Mamelodi Sundowns wiped the floor with Orlando Pirates in a high-stakes league showdown over the weekend. Some shocking results popped up as well, with Magesi and Richards Bay putting a dent in some top teams' dreams. It's time for a straight-up rundown of the PSL weekend's wins and losses.
Winners
Sundowns
The exit of Rulani Mokwena and Manqoba Mngqithi sparked rumors that Sundowns' reign of supremacy was breathtakingly ending. But for the moment, those whispers are looking more like a load of hot air.
42 - Sundowns has now racked up a whopping 42 points in 15 games this season, breaking a new PSL record for points at the halfway stage of a 30-game campaign.
Sundowns' Offensive Might
One moment it's Matthews scoring a brace, the next it's Shalulile finding the net. This weekend, it was Costa's turn to shine. The offensive talent on this squad is bonus points.
35 - Sundowns has scored a jaw-dropping 35 goals across 15 league matches this season, also breaking a new PSL record for goals at the halfway stage of a 30-game debut.
Miguel Cardoso
If Kaizer Chiefs aim to make a splash in CAF football this year, they'll need to win against teams battling for similar positions. They're on the right track.
2 - Chiefs have bested Stellenbosch home and away in league matches this season.
AmaZulu's Coaching Duo
Rowan Human impressed on the field, and he's been one of the driving forces behind AmaZulu's impressive turnaround.
23 - Only Sundowns (30) have earned more points than AmaZulu since Arthur Zwane & Vusumuzi Vilakazi took charge.
Magesi
Magesi secured their first league win since September 2024, putting an end to a 12-game streak that was the longest winless run of any team this season (D5 L7). With uncertainties looming over Royal AM, winning at home may be the key to staying afloat for the others.
Losers
Orlando Pirates
The title race is far from over, but Pirates need to manage their squad better in the second half of the season. TS Galaxy, Stellies, and Cape Town City have used the joint-fewest players in the league this season (26), and Pirates aren't far off.
27 - Pirates have employed just 27 players this season (only 20 have been on the pitch for more than 100 minutes).
The Loftus Pitch
Sure, Sundowns played on the same pitch. But even the Sundowns coach was quick to point out that a top-notch pitch lets the quality of football shine. He went on to say that the groundsmen did their best, but one can't help but wonder if more could have been done for such a landmark game to be played on a better surface.
Cape Town City
A once-promising season has taken a nosedive in recent weeks. City has won just one of their last six matches, losing four. Their defeat to Magesi raises concerns, not just about the result, but also about their offensive performance.
0 - This was the first time since August 2022 that City had no shots on target in a league game (v Maritzburg then).
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- Contrary to the initial rumors, Mamelodi Sundowns' dominance in the PSL continues, as they have broken new records with 42 points and 35 goals at the halfway stage of the season.
- The offensive talent within Sundowns is evident, with players like Matthews, Shalulile, and Costa scoring regularly.
- AmaZulu's coaching duo of Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi has played a crucial role in their impressive turnaround, with only Sundowns earning more points since they took charge.
- Despite securing their first league win since September 2024, Magesi still faces uncertainties due to issues at Royal AM, as winning at home may be the key to staying afloat.
- Orlando Pirates need to address squad management issues in the second half of the season, as they have employed just 27 players this season, and their offensive performance has been concerning in recent weeks.
