Kaizer Chiefs will look to improve on their record of two wins in their previous five Nedbank Cup semifinals when they take on either Mamelodi Sundowns or Sekhukhune United in the last-4 this year.
It has been a mixed bag for Chiefs at this stage of the competition in the past, and this will be another tricky tie, whoever they face.
Here is a recap of Chiefs’ previous five Nedbank Cup semifinals.
2013
KAIZER CHIEFS 2-1 UNITED FC
It wasn’t until 2013 that Chiefs reached a Nedbank Cup semifinal and they came up against Dan Malesela’s United FC, who were campaigning in the second tier. The AmaKhosi made a fast start with early goals from Lehlohonolo Majoro and George Lebese, but were put under pressure by their opponents, who settled in the second half and pulled a goal back from the penalty-spot through Walter Maponyane but could not force an equaliser.
2014
BIDVEST WITS 2-2 KAIZER CHIEFS
A superb see-saw battle that had Chiefs twice come from behind in the tie but ultimately lose on penalties. Sibusiso Vilakazi put BidVest Wits in front via the penalty-spot, before Chiefs got a spot-kick of their own that was converted by Katlego Mphela.
Former Chiefs striker Sthembiso Ngcobo put wits back into the lead in the second half, but George Maluleka levelled again in a frenetic opening to the second half. The game went to extra-time and spot-kicks before Wits eventually triumphed 4-2.
2018
KAIZER CHIEFS 0-2 FREE STATE STARS
It would be four years before Chiefs appeared in the semifinals again and it would prove a disappointment once more. They took the game to Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium in the midst of a difficult run under then coach Steve Komphela and were undone by a more hungry Free State Stars side.
The damage was done early as Stars’ Harris Tchilimbou opened the scoring inside a minute and then added a second before halftime. Unruly scenes at the end of the game from Chiefs fans led to the resignation of Komphela.
2019
CHIPPA UNITED 2-4 KAIZER CHIEFS
Chiefs were back in the semifinals the following year and this time completed the job in some style, though it was only a rally in the final 15 minutes that put them through against coach Clinton Larsen’s Chippa United.
Dumisani Zuma had the AmaKhosi in front but when Andile Mbenyane and Lerato Manzini scored in a seven-minute second-half spell, the game was turned on its head.
Chiefs looked to be heading out, but the game swung again as their Madagascan midfielder Dax equalised, and Bernard Parker and Khama Billiat added further goals. Chiefs would go on to famously lose to second-tier TS Galaxy in the final.
2023
KAIZER CHIEFS 1-2 ORLANDO PIRATES
Goals from Kermit Erasmus and the unlikely figure of Sandile Mthethwa gave Pirates the win, while Yusuf Maart took the game to extra-time with a goal for Chiefs. After Kermit Erasmus had put Pirates ahead, Maart advanced forward and was not tracked by anybody, so when he was slipped in by Dillon Solomons, had time to pick his spot and slide the ball past Sipho Chaine in the Pirates goal.
The game went to the extra 30 minutes, and Mthethwa had the final say as he headed Pirates into the final.