PIC: Milford FC have twice needed penalties to advance in the 2026 Nedbank Cup

The Nedbank Cup semi-finals will be staged this coming weekend, with two intriguing match-ups as the remaining four sides eye a place in the final on May 2.

Durban City host Casric Stars at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday, 4 April (kick-off 15h00), while Milford FC travel to Solomon Mahlangu Stadium a day later to meet TS Galaxy (15h00).

Both ties are battles between top-flight hosts and second-tier visitors, with Galaxy against Milford a clash between former champions and a team hoping to emulate their stunning 2019 success.

Here are five things to note ahead of the tie.

Tight defence

Galaxy have yet to concede a goal in the 2026 Nedbank Cup, having kept clean sheets in all three of their ties to date against Marumo Gallants (1-0), Mamelodi Sundowns (2-0) and Jacksa Spears (2-0).

It means they have kept clean sheets in 10 of their previous 19 Nedbank Cup ties, more than half, including the 2019 final when they beat Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 as a second-tier side thanks to Zakhele Lepasa’s late penalty.

They have four clean sheets in their last five games, including a 7-0 success against Vasco da Gama in the Last 32 in 2025, before they lost 2-1 to then second-tier Durban City in the next round.

Milford have managed only two clean sheets in their seven Nedbank Cup ties, including one this year in a 3-0 win against third-tier Mkhambathi. The other came in 2024 when they defeated Chiefs on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

Contrasting penalty fortunes

Milford have needed penalties to advance in two of their three ties in the 2026 Nedbank Cup. They defeated third-tier SSU M17 in the Last 32 after a 1-1 draw, and Sekhukhune United in the quarter-finals after their tie ended 2-2.

Milford also defeated Kaizer Chiefs on penalties in the Last 32 in 2024, meaning they have won all three shoot-outs they have been involved in.

That is an impressive record, given shoot-outs are generally considered a lottery.

By contrast, Galaxy have been involved in two shoot-outs and lost both. They were beaten by second-tier TS Sporting in 2021 and by Baroka FC in 2022.

But it has generally been rare for them to be taken to penalties, with just two such occasions in their 19 Nedbank Cup games.

Home vs away

All four of Galaxy’s 2026 Nedbank Cup fixtures have been at home, including their semi-final with Milford FC on April 5. They have used Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga rather than their regular home of Mbombela Stadium.

They always get a good turnout of fans behind them and that atmosphere has contributed to their success.

It is in stark contrast to their 2019 run to the trophy, when all five games were played away from home, albeit with the final on neutral territory in Durban.

Nine of their 19 games have been played at home, and they have advanced on five occasions, a statistic boosted by this year’s three wins in a row.

Milford have played four of their seven Nedbank Cup ties away from home and have yet to record an outright win, though they have claimed victory on penalties on three occasions. The only time they lost outright was in their very first tie, at Lamontville Golden Arrows in 2016 when they were still in the third tier. They lost 2-1.

Goals galore

Milford have scored six goals in their three ties so far this season, following a 1-1 draw with SSU M17, a 3-0 win over Mkhambathi and a 2-2 draw with Sekhukhune United. That is a healthy average of 2.00 goals per game and above their overall average in the competition of 1.29 goals per game.

They have scored at least one goal in six of their seven previous Nedbank Cup clashes. The only time they did not find the back of the net was in a 0-0 draw with Kaizer Chiefs in 2024, a tie they won on penalties.

Galaxy have failed to score in only three of their previous 19 Nedbank Cup ties, drawing a blank against Chippa United twice (2020 and 2024) and TS Sporting (2021).

They have scored five goals in three ties this season, but have netted 35 in their 19 games overall, an average of 1.84 per game.

First vs second

This will be the first ever meeting between the sides, making for a historic occasion.

Galaxy have faced lower-league opposition on eight occasions, winning six of those ties. They suffered their two losses to TS Sporting and Durban City.

Their 7-0 win over third-tier Vasco da Gama in 2025 remains their biggest ever as a professional club.

Milford have faced top-flight opposition in five of their seven Nedbank Cup ties and advanced twice, both on penalties against Kaizer Chiefs (2024) and Sekhukhune United (2026).

They lost to Golden Arrows (2016), Stellenbosch FC (2024) and Sekhukhune United (2025).