PIC: Orlando Pirates played to a thrilling 2-2 draw with SuperSport United in the 2025 Nedbank Cup quarter-finals

Nedbank Cup quarter-finals have seen plenty of goals in recent seasons

Goals were hard to come by in the Nedbank Cup Last 16, with nine scored in the eight matches as the evenly matched teams clashed and two ties went to penalties after 0-0 draws.

The quarter-final line-up is another intriguing one and there is the promise of more goals, with clubs tantalisingly close to a major knockout final.

AmaZulu host second-tier Casric Stars on Saturday (kick-off 15h00), while later in the day Sekhukhune United welcome Milford FC (18h00).

There are two more quarter-final clashes on Sunday when third-tier Jacksa Spears go to 2019 winners TS Galaxy (15h00) and Lamontville Golden Arrows welcome Durban City (18h00).

Up until a few years ago the quarter-finals were a round that had mixed reviews in terms of goal scoring, but there has been a definite uptick in recent times, and we can hopefully look forward to more of the same this campaign.

There have been 55 goals scored in 24 Nedbank Cup ties so far this season, but hopefully that ratio increases in the last eight.

Four of the last seven years have produced the most goals at the quarter-final stage, with 2020 (8 goals), 2023 (11 goals) and 2025 (9 goals) the odd ones out.

In 2019 there were a whopping 16 goals scored in the four quarter-finals, a record that was matched in 2022 as five of the six fixtures had five goals in them. In 2021 there were a very healthy 14 goals scored and that was matched by the same number in 2024.

The 2019 tally received a major boost from the astonishing 4-4 draw between Bidvest Wits and Chippa United, while in 2021 the goals were more evenly spread across the games, with the most in a single fixture coming as Mamelodi Sundowns thumped Orlando Pirates 4-1.

In 2024 there was a 4-2 win for Orlando Pirates over AmaZulu that boosted the numbers, and a 4-0 victory for Stellenbosch FC against SuperSport United.

In 11 of the previous 18 years, the goals tally has reached double figures, which equates to a minimum of 2.50 goals per game, very healthy by global standards.

The 2011 campaign was the standout season prior to the recent jump in numbers, when clubs found the back of the net on 14 occasions in a goal rush.

Those games included Baroka FC’s stunning 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs, the first and only time the AmaKhosi had lost to third-tier opposition, but also two five-goal thrillers.

Black Leopards defeated Vasco da Gama 3-2 in a hugely entertaining encounter, while Mpumalanga Black Aces edged AmaZulu by the same scoreline.

The fourth quarter-final was a narrow 1-0 victory for Orlando Pirates over Free State Stars.

There have also been 12 goals scored in the quarter-finals on three occasions, the most recent in 2014.

The fewest number scored in the quarter-finals was in 2012 when the fixtures produced only five goals.

Mamelodi Sundowns beat Maritzburg United 2-0, while the other three games all finished 1-0, including a shock win for Free State Stars over Kaizer Chiefs.

GOALS IN THE NEDBANK CUP QUARTERFINALS SINCE 2008

2008 - 10
2009 - 12
2010 - 9
2011 - 14
2012 - 5
2013 - 12
2014 - 12
2015 - 11
2016 - 7
2017 - 7
2018 - 9
2019 - 16
2020 - 8
2021 - 14
2022 - 16
2023 - 11
2024 - 14
2025 - 9