Mamelodi Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile will have the chance to make Nedbank Cup history against Marumo Gallants on Thursday when he chases the goal that would put him ahead as the outright top-scorer in the competition since 2008.
Shalulile currently shares that honour with recently retired former Sundowns teammate Hlompho Kekana, with both players having managed 11 goals in the competition through their careers.
The Namibian striker, who netted against Gallants in the final last year as Sundowns lifted the title, has been in excellent form in recent weeks after an injury-plagued campaign and netted a brace in the Last 32 win over Richards Bay.
He started his Nedbank Cup scoring spree with Highlands Park in 2020 and has continued to bang in the goals following his move to Chloorkop. No player can come close to his tally in the last three years.
Here is the list of his previous 11 strikes in the competition.
HIGHLANDS PARK 2-0 UTHONGATHI (TWO GOALS)
Last 32 – February 9, 2020
Shalulile scored one goal in each half as then top-flight Highlands eased past second-tier Uthongathi. It was an excellent brace that showed all his qualities.
HIGHLANDS PARK 1-1 KAIZER CHIEFS
Last 16 – February 22, 2020
The striker opened the scoring for Highlands with a fine goal after being teed-up by Luckyboy Mokoena, but Chiefs equalised six minutes later, and the game went to penalties. Shalulile netted in the shoot-out as Highlands advanced 5-4.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 3-2 STELLENBOSCH FC (TWO GOALS)
Last 32 – February 3, 2021
Shalulile moved to Sundowns for the 2020/21 Premier Soccer League season and was straight into the goals in the Nedbank Cup as he scored a brace in a difficult win over Stellenbosch FC. He first was set up by Lebohang Maboe on 16 minutes, while he completed his brace in extra-time as he crashed home an excellent finish just three minutes before the game would have gone to penalties.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 4-0 POLOKWANE CITY
Last 16 – March 10, 2021
Shalulile opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a neat close-range finish to set Sundowns on their way to a comfortable win.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 4-1 ORLANDO PIRATES
Quarterfinal – April 15, 2021
Once again it was Shalulile who scored the opening goal early in the game to ease the Sundowns nerves and they would go on to claim another big victory. This time he was set-up by Rivaldo Coetzee.
RICHARDS BAY 0-4 MAMELODI SUNDOWNS
Last 32 – February 4, 2022
The striker put the cherry on top for Sundowns in this game as he scored the fourth and final goal in another rout for the Tshwane side. It was his eighth in as many games in the competition.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 2-1 MARUMO GALLANTS
Final – May 28, 2022
Shalulile has proven before that he is the man for the big occasion and it was his goal that gave Sundowns the lead in the 2022 Nedbank Cup final against Gallants. He netted just past the half-hour mark with a composed finish as Gallants failed to clear a cross, and The Brazilians went on to lift the trophy after extra time.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS 3-2 RICHARDS BAY (TWO GOALS)
Last 32 – February 7, 2023
Shalulile came back to haunt Richards Bay again with a brace of goals in this tough Last 32 clash this season. His first was a chipped finish over the goalkeeper as he burst into the box, while his second was an excellent low shot into the corner from the edge of the box. He took his tally to 11 goals in the competition from 14 appearances.