Orlando Pirates claim bragging rights as top Soweto side

Orlando Pirates are assured of finishing the 2023/2024 DStv Premiership season with bragging rights as the top Soweto side.

The Buccaneers are currently third in the standings and occupy a CAF Confederation Cup berth for next season and will play in the MTN8 as well.

Orlando Pirates have 46 points after 26 matches.

They are currently 13 points ahead of bitter Soweto rivals Kaizer Chiefs who occupy eighth place.

Amakhosi have just 33 points, also having played 26 matches.

That means the best Kaizer Chiefs can do – should they win their final four matches – would be 12 more points and a final tally of 45.

Goals scored

One of the main reasons for Orlando Pirates’ success this season has been their form in front of goal – and their mean defence.

The Buccaneers have scored 41 goals (second highest in the league) while they have conceded 23 goals (fifth fewest) for a goal differential of +18.

By contrast, Kaizer Chiefs have only scored 22 goals (sixth fewest) and have conceded 25 for a goal differential of -3.

Bragging rights

How have Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs done in head-to-head battles over the years?

Remarkably, in the 27 completed seasons since the PSL era kicked off in 1996/1997, Kaizer Chiefs have finished ahead of Orlando Pirates on 14 occasions with the Buccaneers claiming bragging rights 13 times.

However, when the current campaign wraps up towards the end of May, that ‘score’ will be level at 14-all.

The biggest difference in final finishing positions to SEVEN (for both sides).

Kaizer Chiefs finished ahead of Orlando Pirates by seven spots in the 2016/17 season (4th v 11th), while Orlando Pirates finished seven places in front of Kaizer Chiefs in 2018/19 (2nd v 9th).

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