Mamelodi Sundowns will be looking to extend their record Nedbank Cup unbeaten run when they take on Stellenbosch FC in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Quite remarkably, Sundowns have not lost a Nedbank Cup tie outright in over four years, since a surprise Last 32 exit at the hands of Chippa United in January 2019.
That is now a run of 16 games without defeat in 120 minutes, easily the longest by any club in the competition’s history.
The previous record-holders were SuperSport United, who went 10 games unbeaten on their way to back-to-back title wins in 2016 and 2017.
Sundowns did, of course, exit in the semifinals in 2021 after losing a penalty shoot-out to eventual winners TTM, but as per Fifa regulations, that match is actually listed as a draw following their 0-0 stalemate.
However, Steve Barker’s side has a knack for making life hard for the Masandawana based on recent history, certainly more so than the vast majority of teams in South Africa.
Downs have only won one out of their last four games against Stellies, two of which have been draws.
The teams drew 1-1 when they last met in early March. Barker’s side did also inflict a memorable 3-0 defeat over Downs when the teams last late last season, a match during which now Kaizer Chiefs attacker Ashley Du Preez was the destroyer in chief for the Cape-based side.