With the Betway Premiership title race shaping up to be a thrilling
two-horse race between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates, PSLSA
looks back at five occasions in the PSL era where the championship was
decided by the finest of margins.
Orlando Pirates Triumph on Goal Difference (2010/11)
The Buccaneers still look back fondly on the 2010/11 season, when they ended
an eight-year wait for a league title in the most dramatic fashion
imaginable. Pirates clinched the Premiership on goal difference on the final
day of the campaign, after both they and Cape Town Spurs (then known as Ajax
Cape Town) finished level on 60 points.
Spurs needed a victory in their final fixture to be crowned champions, but
could only manage a 2-2 draw with Maritzburg United. Meanwhile, Pirates
secured a late 2-1 win over Golden Arrows to snatch the title by the
narrowest possible margin.
Sundowns Edge Chiefs in Goal-Difference Thriller (1998/99)
Back in the 1998/99 season, when the PSL still boasted 18 teams, Mamelodi
Sundowns also claimed the championship on goal difference after finishing
dead level on 75 points with Kaizer Chiefs.
Going into the final matchday, Sundowns knew that a win would be enough to
guarantee the title. They delivered a professional 2-0 victory over Spurs,
but Chiefs gave themselves a glimmer of hope by thrashing Dynamos 5-1.
Ultimately, Amakhosi’s heroics fell five goals short of what was required to
overtake The Brazilians.
Chiefs Hold Their Nerve (2012/13)
The 2012/13 season provided another final-day nail-biter, with Kaizer Chiefs
edging second-placed Platinum Stars by a single point to be crowned
champions.
The Glamour Boys knew that nothing less than victory would do on the last
day, and they secured a nervy 1-0 win over the University of Pretoria. Stars
did their part, thumping SuperSport United 3-0, but it wasn’t enough to
dislodge Chiefs from the summit.
Pirates Survive a Scare (2000/01)
Orlando Pirates have another title to their name that was decided on the
final day, this time edging Kaizer Chiefs by a solitary point at the end of
the 2000/01 campaign.
In a dramatic conclusion, the Buccaneers almost let the title slip from
their grasp, drawing 1-1 with Moroka Swallows. However, Chiefs were left to
rue their own misfortune, as they could only manage a goalless stalemate
against Golden Arrows, handing the title to their rivals.
SuperSport Do Just Enough (2009/10)
The 2009/10 season provided a unique twist, as SuperSport United could
afford to lose their final match and still be crowned champions by a single
point.
Matsatsantsa went down 3-0 to AmaZulu on the last day, but it mattered
little as second-placed Mamelodi Sundowns, despite their comfortable 3-0 win
over Golden Arrows, could not close the gap. SuperSport’s earlier efforts
had given them just enough breathing room to survive a final-day defeat and
lift the trophy.
