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Downs draw level with Chiefs as they play 22nd domestic final

For all the praise and adulation that this Sundowns team have received recently, there is still the potential for the season to have an anti-climatic finale. Two trophies are safely in the cabinet, but hands and hearts are itching for a treble. The MTN8 was secured at the end of October, and (in mathematical hindsight) they had secured the league at the beginning of March. It was on the 2nd of March (3-0 win over TS Galaxy) that Sundowns won their 51st point – no other team will go past 49 points this season.

1 – This is the first season in PSL history where only one team goes past 50 points in the league.

The gulf in class between Sundowns and other teams is shown in other records too. 

They end the season with the most goals scored and the highest goal difference in a 30-game campaign. But the magic of the Cup has no respect for league champions. Only four of the previous 25 league champions have managed to win both the league and Nedbank Cup. However, of those four, Sundowns have achieved the feat twice – in 1997/98 and 2019/20. That double is rare but even rarer still is winning a treble.

2 – In PSL history, only three teams (Pirates 2010/11, Pirates 2011/12 and Sundowns 2020/21) have managed to win a domestic treble.

Standing in Sundowns’ way are Marumo Gallants, led by a man who is familiar not just with the Cup but also with Cup final upsets. Dan Malesela was in charge of TS Galaxy when they beat Kaizer Chiefs in the 2019 showpiece. That is one of the things that makes this an intriguing final. Despite the galaxy of stars at their disposal, Manqoba Mngqithi and Rulani Mokwena have not lifted this particular Cup since their appointment. In fact, they lost to this outfit (under a different name) in the semis last season. Plus Downs have been sloppy in recent weeks.

6 – Sundowns have conceded 6 goals in their last three games, failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those.

Surprisingly, the bookmakers have set Sundowns as heavy favourites come Saturday. That probably has more to do with the quality and depth of their squad than with recent form. After all, Gallants are one of a few teams that have taken the game to Sundowns in a league game this season. Before Stellenbosch’s recent 3-0 win, they were the last team to open the scoring in a league game against Sundowns (back in December). But when the whistle blows for kickoff, experience may count more.

22 – Sundowns are in their 22nd domestic final, drawing level with Kaizer Chiefs for most domestic finals in the PSL era.

On the player front, Peter Shalulile will be aiming for his 30th goal of the season in the final. For Gallants, Ndabayithethwa Ndlondo will be looking to add to his 10 in all competitions. You get the feeling that this could be one of the key battles. Recent Nedbank cup finals have been very cagey, and if that is anything to go by, whoever scores first sets themselves up for a massive winning chance.

4 – The last 4 finals have been settled by a single goal, each ending 1-0.

By Opta Jabu

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