PIC: Mfundo Thikazi of Royal AM during the 2022 Nedbank Cup Quarterfinal against University of Pretoria

Nedbank Cup quarterfinals have seen a goals rush in recent years

After the record number of goals scored in the Nedbank Cup Last 16 this year, the question is whether that will be maintained into the quarterfinals, where ties are traditionally tighter.
There were 29 goals in the second round of this year’s competition, setting a new benchmark and boosted by the 6-3 victory for Stellenbosch FC over TS Galaxy that provided almost a third of those on its own. 
Fans were certainly entertained throughout, as has been the case for much of this year’s Nedbank Cup, where 79 goals have been scored in 24 matches, a very healthy average of 3.29 per game.
If that is to continue in the quarterfinals, that will see 13 goals scored, which will be up there with the highest totals from the past.

But there are also to be some tight ties. Third-tier Dondol Stars have shown they can be a match for anybody as they take on Orlando Pirates, while Kaizer Chiefs know they are up against it when they travel to Royal AM.
Even free-scoring Mamelodi Sundowns struggled the last time they visited Stellenbosch FC just a few weeks ago as they came away with a 1-1 draw, while Chippa United against Sekhukhune United is something of an unknown.    
If recent history is anything to go by, we should be in for a treat. Three of the last four years have been the most for goals at the quarterfinal stage, with 2020 (8 goals) the odd one out.

In 2019 there were a whopping 16 goals scored in the four quarterfinals, a record that was matched last year as five of the six fixtures had five goals in them. In 2021 there were a very healthy 14 goals scored.

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 around the games, with the most in a single fixture coming as Mamelodi Sundowns thumped Orlando Pirates 4-1.

In nine of the previous 15 years, the goals tally has reached double-figures in the quarterfinals, though we have only seen double-figures in three of the last seven seasons. 

The 2011 campaign was the stand-out season prior to the recent jumps in numbers, when clubs found the back of the net on 14 occasions in a goals rush. 

Those games included Baroka FC’s stunning 2-1 victory over Kaizer Chiefs, the first 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 quarterfinal was a narrow 1-0 victory for Orlando Pirates over Free State Stars.

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

The fewest number scored in the quarterfinals 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