Winners & Losers: PSL Penultimate Weekend

There were also important wins for Cape Town City (in their battle against relegation) and Stellenbosch (in their battle for a Top 3 spot). Elsewhere, there were disappointing draws for Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, with the latter more worrying as they are set to secure a Top 8 place. Winners and Losers bring you a wrap of the best statistics from Matchday 27 in the PSL.

Winners

Sundowns

Words are beginning to run out for this Sundowns side, who seem to be breaking a record every week. To simplify things, we’ve compiled a few records they set on their final game day.

• 24 wins is a new PSL record for wins in a season
• 73 points equals the PSL record for points in the 30-game era
• They are the 1st team to win all their home games in a season
• +52 is a new record for Goal Difference in a season
• Downs have completed 10 doubles this season, a new record
• 40 home goals is a new record in the 30-game PSL era
• 65 goals is an extended goals record for a reduced PSL season
• They are the 5th team in PSL history to score in 100% of their home games

Miguel Cardoso

Expectations were high when Cardoso took over from Manqoba Mngqithi in early December, but he’s delivered. Without the Royal AM shenanigans, this could easily have been a 79-point season. For context, the 34-game record is 75 points. Nonetheless, Sundowns have set a record for points per game in the PSL era (2.6), thanks largely to his influence.

2.6 – Under Cardoso, Sundowns averaged 2.6 points per game, the best ratio of all teams.

Lucas Ribeiro

A brace on the day that opened up some daylight between him and teammate Iqraam Rayners in the Golden Boot race. It’s too early to declare him a winner, but it’s hard to see another PSL player make up 8+ goals in one or two games.

25 – Altogether, Ribeiro has been involved in 25 goals this season (16 goals & 9 assists), the best return by a PSL player since Peter Shalulile in 2021/22 (28).

Stellenbosch

A crucial win in the race for CAF football. Stellies came into this game chasing Sekhukhune in third, but the latter’s draw with Chiefs opened a window of opportunity. They did not waste much time in taking it, and later holding on for victory.

27” – This was the second quickest Stellies went 2-0 up in a league game, after October 2029 – 20 minutes v Polokwane City (177 games played).

Cape Town City

Boy, did they need that. Exactly four months without a win had left City on the brink of going to the relegation playoffs. As it stands, they are still favourites for the drop, but they get to fight another day.

14 – City ended a run of 14 games without a win (all comps), their longest ever run without a victory since becoming a top-flight club.

Amajita

The future is bright.

1 – South Africa has won the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations for the first time.

Losers

Travelling teams in the PSL

Away wins have never been a phenomenon in PSL history. The travelling team wins 4 in 10 away games. However, in the 2nd half of this season, most teams have barely tried to chase when on the road.

7 – 7 of the 15 teams have won just one away game in 2025.