It was a weekend of more records in the DStv Premiership with several clubs setting new marks.
TS GALAXY
Galaxy completed the biggest win in their history with a 4-0 success at home to Lamontville Golden Arrows on Sunday. For a side that had only netted nine goals in 18 games prior to this, it was a major boost to their confidence in the final third. The club’s previous biggest topflight wins were a pair of 3-0 successes over Maritzburg United and Black Leopards in January 2021, while they also beat Witbank Spurs (4-1) and Richards Bay (3-0) in the second-tier, and Ajax Cape Town (5-2) in the Nedbank Cup preliminary round.
STELLENBOSCH FC
Friday’s 3-2 provincial derby win against Cape Town City was the first time in their topflight history that Stellenbosch FC have come from two goals down to win a game. They had trailed 2-0 late in the first half but rallied back to end a nine-game winless streak in the most dramatic fashion. They have done it once before as a second-tier side, all the way back in October 2016 when the team was just months old. They trailed Black Leopards 2-0 in Thohoyandou but came back to win 3-2 with all their goals coming in the final 18 minutes.
It is the second time Cape Town City have let a two-goal lead slip and lost in their history. The only other occasion was in their maiden season in 2016/17 when they were 2-0 up after seven minutes at Polokwane City and lost 4-2. Eric Tinkler was also in charge of the side back then.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Where to start! Sundowns have extended their own Premier Soccer League era record of successive league victories to 14 with their 2-0 success against Sekhukhune United. They are now chasing Kaizer Chiefs’ all-time record of 17 wins in a row set in 1991.
Sundowns are also now the fastest side to 50 points in the PSL, taking just 20 games to get there. Chiefs were the previous record holder with 21 matches in 2014/15. Sundowns’ own best mark was 22 matches, something they managed three times, including last season.
No team has ever held a 21-point lead in the DStv Premiership table, though it should be remembered that Sundowns have played two more games than second-placed Richards Bay, so it is perhaps artificially inflated.
Coach Rhulani Mokwena has extended his winning streak to 10 matches since he took sole charge of the side, the first coach in the PSL to reach double figures in terms of winning matches from the time they took over.
Sundowns have now also matched their own record for the most consecutive home wins with 10. They set that previous best mark over two campaigns in 1998/99 and 1999/00.
RICHARDS BAY
Sunday’s 1-1 draw for Richards Bay at home to AmaZulu is the first time in their short topflight history that they have come from behind to earn a point. Katlego Maphathe’s goal after 94 minutes rescued something from the game for the Natal Rich Boys. To be fair, they have not trailed very often this season! It was only the fourth time they have gone behind.