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Five things you should know ahead of TS Galaxy and Milford FC Nedbank Cup semi-final

NI

Nick Said

Published 3 months ago

Former champions TS Galaxy and second-tier Milford FC will do battle at the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium on Sunday in the second Nedbank Cup semi-final this weekend, with the latter aiming for a first ever final.

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ts-galaxy/KUDSx8jo/"]Galaxy[/a] will be favourites, but in this most unpredictable of Nedbank Cup seasons, expect the unexpected.[/p][p]Here are five things to note ahead of the tie.[/p][h2]Tight defence[/h2][p]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 ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/marumo-gallants-Gnghzo3C/ts-galaxy-KUDSx8jo/?mid=Y75SBDZ8"]1-0[/a]), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mamelodi-sundowns/lxZ6Bzh6/"]Mamelodi Sundowns[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/mamelodi-sundowns-lxZ6Bzh6/ts-galaxy-KUDSx8jo/?mid=MuHX3WiU"]2-0[/a]) and Jacksa Spears ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/jacksa-spears-rqH8usnQ/ts-galaxy-KUDSx8jo/?mid=S0z0UMCT"]2-0[/a]).[/p][p]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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kaizer-chiefs/fFZ2CGx0/"]Kaizer Chiefs[/a] 1-0 as a second-tier side thanks to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/lepasa-zakhele/QyIjnVJC/"]Zakhele Lepasa[/a]’s late penalty.[/p][p]They have four clean sheets in their last five games, including a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/ts-galaxy-KUDSx8jo/vasco-da-gama-pAc1VoyJ/?mid=0EHElhdl"]7-0[/a] success against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/vasco-da-gama/pAc1VoyJ/"]Vasco da Gama[/a] in the Last 32 in 2025, before they lost 2-1 to then second-tier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/durban-city/jVI6SFig/"]Durban City[/a] in the next round.[/p][p]Milford have managed only two clean sheets in their seven Nedbank Cup ties, including one this year in a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/milford-fc-vVj5ECUK/mkhambathi-fRVR1nL6/?mid=Iq8dKixB"]3-0[/a] win against third-tier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mkhambathi/fRVR1nL6/"]Mkhambathi[/a]. The other came in 2024 when they defeated Chiefs on penalties following a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/kaizer-chiefs-fFZ2CGx0/milford-fc-vVj5ECUK/?mid=jHaTarVb"]0-0[/a] draw.[/p][image alt="TS Galaxy form in last 10 games" id="62ee4ef9-33a7-4c46-858b-1a22aafa248c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a497986d-975c-4f7f-a429-7940760750d1" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][h2]Contrasting penalty fortunes[/h2][p]Milford have needed penalties to advance in two of their three ties in the 2026 Nedbank Cup. They defeated third-tier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ssu-m-17/vH25FXHD/"]SSU M17[/a] in the Last 32 after a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/milford-fc-vVj5ECUK/ssu-m-17-vH25FXHD/?mid=lt7a4VRr"]1-1[/a] draw, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/sekhukhune/UySmgAPp/"]Sekhukhune United[/a] in the quarter-finals after their tie ended [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/milford-fc-vVj5ECUK/sekhukhune-UySmgAPp/?mid=tpxhWrrH"]2-2[/a].[/p][p]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.[/p][p]That is an impressive record, given shoot-outs are generally considered a lottery.[/p][p]By contrast, Galaxy have been involved in two shoot-outs and lost both. They were beaten by second-tier [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/ts-sporting/MgYiqADH/"]TS Sporting[/a] in 2021 and by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/baroka/8YiJtV3p/"]Baroka FC[/a] in 2022.[/p][p]But it has generally been rare for them to be taken to penalties, with just two such occasions in their 19 Nedbank Cup games.[/p][h2]Home vs away[/h2][p]All four of Galaxy’s 2026 Nedbank Cup fixtures have been at home, including their semi-final with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/milford/vVj5ECUK/"]Milford FC[/a] on April 5. They have used Solomon Mahlangu Stadium in KwaMhlanga rather than their regular home of Mbombela Stadium.[/p][p]They always get a good turnout of fans behind them and that atmosphere has contributed to their success.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]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 [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/golden-arrows/C6CjDdNg/"]Golden Arrows[/a] in 2016 when they were still in the third tier. They lost 2-1.[/p][image alt="Milford FC form in last 10 games" id="82472cc6-7e62-4f85-ab50-c5670ff7bc76" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="1ef73512-77a9-4336-a053-9fbff5a720e9" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][h2]Goals galore[/h2][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Galaxy have failed to score in only three of their previous 19 Nedbank Cup ties, drawing a blank against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chippa-utd/AiZa0UPS/"]Chippa United[/a] twice (2020 and 2024) and TS Sporting (2021).[/p][p]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.[/p][h2][b]First vs second[/b][/h2][p]This will be the first ever meeting between the sides, making for a historic occasion.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]Their 7-0 win over third-tier Vasco da Gama in 2025 remains their biggest ever as a professional club.[/p][p]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).[/p][p]They lost to Golden Arrows (2016), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/stellenbosch-fc/fJsWcA5b/"]Stellenbosch FC[/a] (2024) and Sekhukhune United (2025).[/p]

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