Who to watch for goals in the DStv Premiership

Half of the teams have completed a third of their 2022-23 DStv Premiership campaign and so can properly assess the merits of their season to date as the games continue to come thick and fast through October.

There are many factors to look at, but one of those will be how effective they have been in both their own box and that of the opposition.

Only six of the 16 topflight teams have a positive goal-difference at this stage of the campaign, with the tally of goals for and against also giving us a good indicator of which have been the most entertaining teams to watch … and also those where goals have been at a premium at both ends.

Two teams have averaged 2.60 goals per game scored in their matches, which is well above the league average of 1.93, namely Stellenbosch FC and Swallows FC.

Stellies have both scored and conceded 13 times for a total of 26 goals, while The Birds have a healthy 10 goals for, but have let in 16, the most of any topflight team. Both of those sides have played 10 games.

Royal AM are next on the list of average goals per game with 23 netted in their nine games (2.56), followed by a resurgent SuperSport United (2.50), whose 14 goals for is second only to leaders Mamelodi Sundowns (15).

The fact that Matsatsantsa have let in 11 will be the slight concern for coach Gavin Hunt.

Sundowns (15 for, 5 against), Lamontville Golden Arrows (11, 9) and Chippa United (9, 11) have all seen an average of 2.22 goals scored in their games so far this campaign.

As for the teams at the other end of the scale, Richards Bay are riding high in second place in the league, but have seen an average of just one goal scored per 90 minutes in their 10 matches. Seven of those have been at the right end as far as they are concerned, with just three against.

Orlando Pirates have seen slightly more goals per game (1.10) having scored six and conceded five in their 10 games, but the least watchable side for fans seeking goals has been TS Galaxy.

There have been only seven scored in their 10 games so far, of which they have scored three and their opponents four. Not surprisingly, five of their 10 games have finished in goalless draws this campaign.