PIC: Kholofelo Monama of Dondol Stars

The Nedbank Cup Last 32 saw a glut of goals and one huge giant-killing act that will live long in the memory. We round up the numbers on the round.

1 – There was only one instance in the Last 32 where a team defeated a side from a higher division than them. That came as third-tier Dondol Stars stunned topflight SuperSport United 2-1 in one of the great Nedbank Cup shocks. 

2 – There were only two penalty shoot-outs in the Last 32, and they came in the final two matches played in the round! Royal AM edged Cape Town City 4-3 after a goalless draw in their tie, while Chippa United beaten Polokwane City 3-1 following a 1-1 draw. 

2 – There are two teams from the SAFA structures who have made it to the Last 16. Dondol Stars will take on AmaZulu at home and Mpheni Home Defenders travel to Chippa United. 

2 – There were two own goals scored in the Last 16 and both players ended up on the losing side - Kamogelo Mogaswa (Pretoria Callies) and Bulelani Nikani (Polokwane City).

3 – The quickest goal of the round came as Polokwane City’s Francis Baloyi netted after only three minutes against Chippa United. 

5 - Chippa United have now met lower league opposition in five of their last seven Nedbank Cup ties. And they have drawn third-tier Mpheni Home Defenders in the Last 16!  

5 – Five players managed a brace of goals in the opening round and head this year’s scorers list - Rhulani Manzini (Venda Football Academy), Vusimuzi Mncube (Sekhukhune United), Kgomotso Mosadi (Casric Stars), Iqraam Rayners (Stellenbosch FC) and Peter Shalulile (Mamelodi Sundowns). All will get to add to that number after their teams advanced.

6 – Both the biggest winning margin and the most goals in a single tie came in the same game as Sekhukhune United defeated fourth-tier Liver Brothers 6-0. The next biggest win was Casric Stars’ 4-0 success against Mkhambathi. 

7 – There were seven away wins in the 16 ties, though two of those were via penalties shoot-ours (so actually the games were drawn).

11 – Peter Shalulile’s two goals for Mamelodi Sundowns takes him to 11 in the Nedbank Cup (for The Brazilians and Highlands Park), the joint all-time top-scorer since 2008 along with former teammate Hlompho Kekana. 

11 – There will be 11 teams from the DStv Premiership in the Last 16, with the teams to miss out after first round exits being Richards Bay, Cape Town City, Maritzburg United, SuperSport United and Swallows FC.

15 – Mamelodi Sundowns have stretched to 15 their record unbeaten run in the Nedbank Cup competition. They defeated Richards Bay in the Last 32. Their last outright defeat came against Chippa United in 2019. 

50 – The number of goals scored in the 16 Last 32 matches, an average of 3.13 per game. That is a huge jump from the 36 goals that were netted in 2022. 

113 – The latest goals in the Last 32 both came after 113 minutes as Knox Mutizwa scored a winner for Lamontville Golden Arrows against Pretoria Callies and Ashley du Preez made sure of the win for Kaizer Chiefs at Maritzburg United.

2018 – It is the first time since 2018 that all of the so-called ‘Big Three’ – Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns – have made it through to the Last 16 of the Nedbank Cup.