As Sundowns celebrate a 5th consecutive title, the whispers of “Farmers League” are slowly growing into shouts. The first three of those title races were very close, but the last two have been won at a canter, and the basic numbers back this up. Things are getting easier for the Brazilians.
Indeed, the last two seasons have largely been characterised by the absence of strong challengers for the title. AmaZulu were the team that came nearest last season, and the same may be true for Cape Town City this term.
0 – City are the only team to have played Sundowns home and away this season without losing.
There is no trophy for that sadly, but it points to a team heading in the right direction. As they go into the last home game of the season, City may be out of the title race but they have much to play for. They can breach the 50-point mark for the first time in five seasons, last doing so in 2016/17 also under Eric Tinkler (55 points). One more win will also guarantee CAF football next season, the first return to continental action in 5 years.
3 – City’s best top-flight finish is 3rd; a 2nd place finish (if they hold on) would be their highest ever.
Yet, CAF football can also be a double-edged sword, as AmaZulu learnt throughout the campaign. Long trips, injuries and a stretched squad were huge factors in AmaZulu’s underwhelming season. Ask Coach Benni McCarthy. The bookies make City heavy favourites to win on Saturday, and it’s easy to see why – they have won more points than anyone else this year (26 – no one else has more than 20). They are also currently enjoying their best run of form:
12 – City are unbeaten in 12 league matches (W7 D5 since December), their longest run without defeat since they joined the top-flight in 2016.
Having said that, the 5-1 drubbing they suffered against AmaZulu in this same fixture last season could serve as a warning. Of course, they’ve come a long way in 12 months, but they will also be aware of their six-game winless run against AmaZulu (D2 L4 since October 2018). Unusually, this could be a battle of the goalkeepers – with two games remaining, Veli Mothwa and Hugo Marques are the only two keepers who can still win the Golden Glove.
13 & 14 – This season, Mothwa set a new PSL record for clean sheets by an AmaZulu keeper in a top-flight season (13), while Marques also set a new PSL record for clean sheets by a City keeper in a top-flight season (14).
This could be a Golden Glove playoff.
Other matches
Sundowns (1) v Stellenbosch (5)
0 – Sundowns are unbeaten in 14 home games this season, and could be the first Sundowns side to complete a season unbeaten at home.
1 – Stellies are one of two teams they haven’t beaten this season (also CT City).
Baroka (16) v Supersport (8)
0 – Baroka are winless in six games against Supersport, however (W0 D2 L4).
1 – Supersport have won just one of their last eight away league games (W1 D4 L3).
Sekhukhune (10) v Kaizer Chiefs (4)
7/33 – Sekhukhune have won seven points this year, the lowest total in the division.
22 – Only Sundowns (26) have won more points away from home than Chiefs (22).
Golden Arrows (9) v Royal AM (3)
1 – Royal AM have won just one of their five KZN derby matches this season, failing to score in each of the last four.
Swallows FC (15) v Chippa (13)
11 – Swallows have won just 11 points at home this season, the fewest of all top-flight sides.
TS Galaxy (14) v Marumo Gallants (11)3 – Marumo have failed to score in their last 3 away games, currently the longest such run of all sides.
By Opta Jabu
