STATS: Chiefs’ struggle for clean sheets (but how do they rank historically?)

The Soweto giants needed an injury-time equalizer from Ranga Chivaviro to grab a point, after conceding a first-half goal to TS Galaxy.

That conceded goal means that Chiefs have to wait until Christmas Eve (at least) for the possibility of bagging their first clean sheet of the season. Chiefs bear the ignominy of being the only team that has conceded in every game this season, but how do they rank in PSL history? We went through the history books to find out.

The 2024/25 season

This season, Chiefs’ run started in their opening game of the season against Marumo Gallants, when they conceded an 8th-minute goal to midfielder Sekela Sithole. Chiefs managed to come back and win 2-1, but this habit of conceding would continue throughout the first quarter.

When Chiefs lost 1-0 to SuperSport, they set a new club record of four games without a clean sheet from the start of a season. That run could have ended against Richards Bay on Matchday 6, but Yanele Mbuthuma was allowed a 91st-minute goal in that game to prolong the wait. Since, then, the record has been extended even further.

Going further back

In the Carling Knockout, Chiefs thrashed SuperSport United 4-0 to end the game without conceding. But you have to go back to May this year to find Chiefs playing a league game and not allowing a goal – a 0-0 draw at home to Polokwane City in the penultimate game of last season, exactly seven months ago.

Including one game last season, the total number of games Chiefs have gone without a shutout in the competition is 10. They lost the final game of last season 2-0 to Cape Town Spurs. This means Chiefs have also equaled a club record in the PSL era for league games without a clean sheet (10), a feat they also achieved in the latter parts of the 1997/98 and 2020/21 campaigns.

While nine games without a clean to start the season is alarming, it is by no means the worst in PSL history. Before this run, 15 teams had gone longer without a clean sheet from the start of a top-flight season (they are listed below).

Last season’s Cape Town Spurs are the latest previous entrant, having gone 17 games from the start of the season without a clean sheet. 2013/14 Golden Arrows hold the PSL record for the longest run without a clean sheet, having to wait until Game 28 for a first shutout.

Needless to say, they were relegated that season.

Teams that have gone 10+ games without a clean sheet from the start of a season in PSL history:

• 1999/00 Ajax Cape Town
• 2016/17 Ajax Cape Town
• 2020/21 Baroka
• 1999/00 Bush Bucks
• 2023/24 Cape Town Spurs
• 2020/21 Chippa Utd
• 1998/99 Dynamos
• 2011/12 Golden Arrows
• 2013/14 Golden Arrows
• 2016/17 Highlands
• 2010/11 Moroka Swallows
• 2014/15 Moroka Swallows
• 2011/12 Santos
• 2003/04 Thanda Royal Zulu
• 2008/09 Thanda Royal Zulu