Nedbank Cup Semi-Finals Preview

The two semi-finals of the 2022-23 FA Cup take place this weekend. Kaizer Chiefs host Orlando Pirates in a Soweto-derby tie on Saturday, while Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune battle it out on Sunday, We look ahead to these clashes with a statistical preview.

Goals Galore

This season’s Nedbank Cup has been high scoring, with all teams stepping up with some exciting football. Already, 112 goals have been scored in this year’s tournament, which exceeds the TOTAL goals scored in five of the last six editions. We still have three games to play and fans will be hoping to see more goals. Last season, we had just 96 goals at this stage, which is 16 less than we have now. The quarter-finals played along:

8/8 – This was the first time in PSL history that all eight quarter-finalists scored at least one goal in the FA Cup (BobSave/ABSA/Nedbank)

Semi-Finals

Stellenbosch and Sekhukhune are featuring at this stage of the competition for the first time ever. But the other semi-final features some regulars. In the PSL era, only Sundowns (13 times) have reached the semi-final stage of the PSL-era FA Cup on more occasions than Chiefs (10) time and Pirates (8 times). But on Saturday, only one of these can go through.

The Derby

Pirates are meeting Chiefs for a fifth time in the PSL-era FA Cup (BobSave/ABSA/Nedbank Cups). The Buccaneers won three of the previous four ties, with the other ending in a draw After Extra Time (Chiefs won the penalty shootout). Pirates also have a slight edge across all Cup competitions. The two sides have played 20 Cup games in the PSL era:

• Orlando Pirates wins: 10
• Kaizer Chiefs wins: 4 (excl. pen shootouts)
• Draws: 6

Of the six draws, four of them needed penalty shootouts, and Chiefs won all of them. Two  MTN8 draws didn’t need a shootout.

Stellenbosch v Sekhukhune

Both teams will be looking to achieve something that they’ve never previously managed before in their histories. While Sekhukhune’s path has been a bit more straightforward, Stellies have overcome Sundowns along the way. Since 2018, Stellenbosch have lost just one of six games played at home in the Nedbank Cup, winning four & drawing one. Steve Barker will have eyes on extending that record. Yet, both teams deserve their place at the top-table, in particular for their scoring feats.

11 & 10 – Stellenbosch (11) and Sekhukhune (10) are the top-scoring teams in the Nedbank Cup this season.

Road To The Final

The FA Cup has been played before the PSL era, and Chiefs have been the dominant side overall. The 13 winners’ medals are way above any other side, but this weekend they’ll be also looking to protect their record of reaching the finals. Should Pirates win, they’ll equal Chiefs for reaching the most finals (18), and inch closer to their total trophy count.

BET Contributor