Trends in First Quarter Goal Scoring for the PSL (Premier Soccer League)
Football Fiesta
Slide into the second half of the football season as the international break winds down, bringing fresh insights into the 2024 PSL action! With approximately 20% of the league saga unfolding, every team has tasted the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, and only one team, Orlando Pirates, remains untouched by a loss. On the opposite end, TS Galaxy is still searching for that initial triumph.
Let's dive into the numbers:- Bet Now: PSL – A sum of 91 goals has graced the pitch so far, with 72 tucked away neatly inside the box (an impressive 79% of the total) and 19 rocketed home from afar (21%). By New Year's Eve, another 40 matches will be in the book, raising the completed games count to 38%.
The second half of the season will heat up with the remaining 62% of games, alongside Nedbank Cup contests and a March international break. Could this whirlwind of fixtures compromise the quality of football and goal-scoring chances? Keep an eye on the action to find out!
One Step Back: Where Do The Chances Originate?
Below is a map of shooting locations for the league's 16 teams, highlighting each squad's shooting volume and accuracy. Teams are organized by the number of shots taken to date. Zoom in to find your favorites!
Orlando Pirates lead the charge at the top of the table with a 3-point advantage. The Bucs have taken the lion's share of shots and posted the highest xG (11.75). They're the only team to pass the double-digit xG mark this season. However, their inconsistency has reared its head with 40 off-target shots, the highest in the league, highlighting a lack of conviction in key moments.
Ruthless in front of goal, Sundowns have netted 15 league goals, the most of any team. Ranking fifth in shots taken, Sundowns maintain a remarkable shooting efficiency of 23%, far exceeding the league average of 10%. Their rate has already dropped slightly since the October international break and may continue to dwindle as the busy schedule unfolds. Like Pirates, Sundowns will also take part in the CAF Champions League group stages.
Despite a bumpy start to the season, Kaizer Chiefs have fired the second-most shots, trailing behind their Soweto neighbors. With the league's average conversion rate currently at 9%, the Glamour Boys' lack of precision in front of goal and defensive lapses have cost them valuable points.
Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune United, perched 4th and 5th on the table, have exhibited promising shooting volumes. Both teams, however, still have room for improvement in transforming these opportunities into goals.
Teams like Royal AM, SuperSport United, Magesi, and TS Galaxy struggled in previous editions to convert opportunities, and several newcomers to this club, including Cape Town City FC and Marumo Gallants, have joined their ranks, posting a disheartening conversion rate of just 6%.
A solid shot conversion rate seldom strays far from 10%, both locally and globally. To climb higher up the table, teams require both volume and accuracy. For instance, Golden Arrows boasted the second-highest conversion rate last season (12%), but their low shot volume (ranking 15th) hindered their pitch prowess.
In the second half of the 2025 Football Fiesta, Orlando Pirates, with the highest shooting volume, lead the table but have been inconsistent, scoring the most off-target shots. Despite this, Sundowns, ranked fifth in shots taken, maintain a remarkably high shooting efficiency, netting the most league goals.
Kaizer Chiefs trail behind their neighbouring Pirates, firing the second-most shots, but their lack of precision in front of goal has been costly. promising shooting volumes, Stellenbosch FC and Sekhukhune United have room for improvement in converting opportunities into goals.
Royal AM, SuperSport United, Magesi, TS Galaxy, Cape Town City FC, and Marumo Gallants have struggled in previous editions to convert opportunities, with a conversion rate as low as 6%. Achieving both volume and accuracy is vital for teams aiming to climb higher up the table, as demonstrated by Golden Arrows' high conversion rate last season.
