Can TS Galaxy go where no club has gone before?

Kaizer Chiefs will do battle against National First Division side TS Galaxy in Saturday’s final of the Nedbank Cup in Durban, the fourth time that a second-tier side has reached the decider since 2008.

All three previous lower league sides suffered defeat, but there is a real optimism with Galaxy that they can become the first ever NFD team to lift the trophy.

Here is a quick recap of how team have fared in the past in the Nedbank Cup decider over the last 11 years.

2008

Mamelodi Sundowns were crowned champions in Nedbank’s inaugural year of sponsorship after they defeated plucky National First Division side Mpumalanga Black Aces 1-0 in the final.

It took a Lerato Chabangu goal three minutes from time to separate the teams as Black Aces threatened yet another upset with an excellent display in the decider.

2009

For the second year running a side from the National First Division made the final of the Nedbank Cup but again they would fall just short.

University of Pretoria had a thrilling cup on their way to a meeting with Moroka Swallows at the Rand Stadium in the decider.

They would lose that day 1-0 after a goal from The Birds’ Brazilian midfielder Vinicius Da Silva.

2010

The final of the 2010 Nedbank Cup was played at the magnificent new FNB Stadium, the first competitive fixture to be hosted at the iconic venue that months later would stage the Fifa World Cup final.

BidVest Wits were victorious with a 3-0 success over AmaZulu, who appeared in their sixth final in the competition, all of which have ended in defeat.

Brazilian midfielder Fabricio Rodrigues scored to go with a brace from Sifiso Vilakazi to hand Wits the win.

2011

The 2011 Nedbank Cup will forever be remembered for the run of third-tier side Baroka FC to the semifinals, but it was Orlando Pirates who lifted the trophy.

Pirates defeated second-tier Black Leopards 3-1 in the decider after falling behind to a Rooi Mahamutsa own goal.

Isaac Chansa restored parity before a brace from Thulasizwe Mbuyane sealed the win for The Buccaneers.

2012

SuperSport United won an all-Tshwane final as they defeated Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 in the decider.

Thabo September and Kermit Erasmus scored in each half to hand Matsatsantsa victory and deservedly so as they outplayed their rivals on the day.

The tournament will also be remembered for the record victory in South African professional football as Sundowns thumped fourth-tier Northern Cape side Powerlines FC 24-0.

2013

Kaizer Chiefs claimed the 2013 Nedbank Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over defending champions SuperSport United in the final, Bernard Parker grabbing the only goal in extra-time.

Chiefs had defeated National First Division side United FC in the semifinals, the latter coached by current TS Galaxy boss Dan Malesela.

The biggest shock of the tournament came when third-tier Maluti FET College from the Free State thumped Orlando Pirates 4-1 in the Last 32, arguably the biggest upset in the history of the Nedbank Cup competition.

2014

Orlando Pirates made up for their bitter disappointment the year before by claiming the Nedbank Cup in 2014 by beating BidVest Wits 3-1 in the final.

It was a third final in succession for Gavin Hunt, who had joined Wits from SuperSport at the start of the season.

Jabulani Shongwe had given Wits the lead, before a brace from Kermit Erasmus and another goal for Sifiso Myeni sealed the cup for Pirates.

2015

Mamelodi Sundowns edged Ajax Cape Town’s youngsters in a penalty shoot-out after the teams had played to a 0-0 draw at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

Ajax’s Abbubaker Mobara had the opportunity to win it in the shoot-out, but when he missed, Sundowns held their nerve to claim the title.

2016

SuperSport United claimed their second Nedbank Cup title in four years, and their fourth in the competition as a whole, when they defeated Orlando Pirates 3-2 in a pulsating final played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.

Luvoyo Memela gave Pirates an early lead, before Jeremy Brockie, Bradley Grobler and Michael Boxall sent SuperSport into halftime 3-1 up.

A Clayton Daniels own goal early in the second period, as well as an injury to first-choice keeper Ronwen Williams, set up a pulsating finish, but Pirates could not grab an equaliser.

2017

SuperSport United became the first side to win back-to-back Nedbank Cup titles as they again defeated Orlando Pirates in the decider, this time thumping The Buccaneers 4-1 in the decider played in Durban.

Bradley Grobler scored a brace for Matsatsantsa, while Jeremy Brockie and Kingston Nkhatha were also on target.

Brockie also missed a penalty in the game as Oupa Manyisa netted a late consolation for Pirates.

2018

Free State Stars made history when they lifted the Nedbank Cup for the first time, beating fellow surprise finalists Maritzburg United in a dazzling decider at the Cape Town Stadium.

Goodman Dlamini scored the only goal of the game just before halftime to secure the trophy for Stars, who also booked a place in African club competition for the first time in their history.