Sundowns might score goals at will‚ but their defence is also freakishly miserly

Imperious Mamelodi Sundowns look set to smash the Absa Premiership goal-scoring record for a 30-game season as they continue their march to the defence of their league title‚ but they have been equally as impressive defensively.

Sundowns’ 6-0 drubbing of hapless Orlando Pirates on Saturday took their tally of goals for the season to 25 from just 11 games.

If they keep up that rate of scoring‚ they will finish with 68 goals‚ crushing the record they currently hold of 55 scored in a single season‚ a tally they notched last year.

The all-time leading mark for most goals scored in a Premiership season is 73 from 34 games by Kaizer Chiefs when they finished second in the 1998/99 campaign.

But as proficient as Sundowns have been in front of goal‚ they have also been remarkably miserly at the back‚ conceding just six times for comfortably the best defensive record this season as well.

• Pitso: Only Pirates can go toe to toe with SundownsMamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane was gracious even in Saturday’s 6-0 embarrassment of Orlando Pirates at Loftus Versfeld‚ saying only the Buccaneers can go toe to-toe with the Brazilians. 

Only once in the last decade have they conceded fewer goals after 11 games‚ in the 2010-11 season when they let in just five‚ though their campaign would ultimately fall apart as they finished fourth‚ letting in a further 23 goals in 19 games.

Given the quality that they have at the back‚ and in reserve‚ it is hard to see that happening again.

When they won the league in 2006-07 under Gordon Igesund they had conceded only four goals after 11 games.

This season’s proficiency at the back has been building‚ they had the best defensive record last year when they conceded only 20 goals‚ though the side had struggled‚ in relative terms‚ prior to that under coach Pitso Mosimane.

Sundowns have only let in two goals in a domestic league game in the last year – in their losses to Bloemfontein Celtic (1-3)‚ Cape Town City (1-2) and Ajax Cape Town (0-2).

And they have also kept clean-sheets in their previous three games‚ with the last player to score against them being Thokozani Sekotlong in a 4-1 win over Free State Stars in early December.

Much of their defensive success has been built around how teams set up against them‚ generally sitting back and getting men behind the ball.

It is interesting that the two sides who bucked that trend and looked to attack‚ Ajax and Cape Town City‚ got reward.

But otherwise Sundowns have been dominant defensively over their opponents this campaign and that fact‚ as much as their rich attacking ability‚ is why they will be hard to stop in the title race this year.

SUNDOWNS GOALS CONCEDED AFTER 11 GAMES

Season – goals conceded (final league position)

2016/17 - 6

2015/16 - 8 (first)

2014/15 - 7 (second)

2013/14 - 9 (first)

2012/13 - 13 (tenth)

2011/12 - 8 (fourth)

2010/11 - 5 (fourth)

2009/10 - 14 (second)

2008/09 - 10 (ninth)

2007/08 - 13 (fourth)

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport