PIC: Malibongwe Khoza of Mamelodi Sundowns scored the quickest goal of the Nedbank Cup Last 32

The Last 32 of the Nedbank Cup has provided plenty of thrills and spills, and no shortage of drama, as the campaign kicked off in style. 
We look back at the numbers that have so far made up the opening round of this year’s competition, with the tie between Royal AM and Milford FC still to be determined.  

0 – There were no games that went to extra-time in the Last 32 to date, with all fixtures being decided in the 90 minutes. That is the first time that has happened in the Nedbank Cup.

1 – Only one team from the amateur ranks made it through to the Last 16 after Mpheni Home Defenders defeated second-tier Hungry Lions 3-1 in Thohoyandou. It at least maintains the record of an amateur progressing in every year of the Nedbank Cup bar 2021, when no teams were entered due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1 – There was a single own goal in the Last 32 so far, netted by the unfortunate Brandon Theron of Lamontville Golden Arrows. Ironically, it came two minutes after he had equalised at the right end against Chippa United, who won 2-1.

2 – The fastest goal of the Last 32 has been scored by Mamelodi Sundowns’ Malibongwe Khoza against Sibanye Golden Stars, who headed home inside two minutes, or 85 seconds to be exact. Sundowns went on to win 5-2.

2 – Puso Dithejane (TS Galaxy) and Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) were credited with two assists each int he Last 32, the most by any players. 

3 – AmaZulu defender Sandile Mthethwa was the only player to score a hat-trick and you would have got good odds on that before the start of the round. He netted three times in the Usuthu’s 5-1 home win over Mighty Eagles. He heads the Golden Boot race.

7 – The biggest victory of the Last 32 so far was TS Galaxy’s 7-0 win over CR Vasco da Gama, which is also the biggest win in The Rockets’ history. That was also the most goals scored in a single game along with Sundowns’ 5-2 success against Sibanye Golden Stars.

7 – There were seven away wins in the Last 32 to go with eight home victories. The first five ties played were all won by the away team.

8 – Eight of the 30 teams to have played so far failed to get on the scoresheet, with five of those from the amateur tanks – Lerumo Lions, Umvoti, The Bees, Free Agents and CR Vasco da Gama. Second-tier Pretoria Callies and topflight sies Magesi FC and Cape Town City were the others.   

11 – Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has extended his unbeaten run in the competition to a record 11 games after his side eased past Richards Bay with a 3-1 scoreline. The back-to-back winners are going for an unprecedented third title in a row.    

12 – Twelve clubs from the Betway Premiership have so far made it to the Last 16, along with two from the Motsepe Foundation Championship and one from the ABC Motsepe League. One place needs to be decided between topflight Royal AM and second-tier Milford FC.

16 – Mamelodi Sundowns have now advanced from the Last 32 in 16 of the 18 seasons of the Nedbank Cup, the best record of any club. Their only early exits came in 2011 versus Orlando Pirates (0-1) and 2019 against Chippa United (1-2).  

53 – There were 53 goals scored in the 15 matches in the Last 32 to date, an average of 3.53 per game. That is well above the average for other Premier Soccer League competitions, which sits just above two goals per game.