Friday’s Nedbank Cup quarter-final clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium (7pm kick-off) is set against a backdrop of prolific scoring between Mamelodi Sundowns and Sekhukhune United in league matches this season.

Sundowns have showcased their attacking prowess with dominant 3-0 and 4-2 victories, racking up a staggering nine goals in two encounters.

With the prospect of a semi-final berth looming, another high-scoring game could propel this clash into the spotlight.

Historically, the Nedbank Cup quarter-finals have been low goal-scoring affairs, but recent trends suggest an upward trajectory.

This season alone, 82 goals have been scored across 26 ties, averaging an impressive 3.23 goals per game.

The prospect of a goal-fest will be music to the ears of Sundowns striker Peter Shalulile, who goes into Friday’s match two goals shy of equalling the Premier Soccer League’s record tally.

Siyabonga Nomvethe, who played for Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, holds the record for the most goals in the PSL with 129 in all top-flight matches since the launch of the league in 1996.

Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns’ Portuguese coach, again faces the challenge of fielding exhausted returning players from international duty.

The club had seven players with Bafana Bafana and two (Shalulile and Deon Hotto) with Namibia.

Fortunately, Namibia played on Monday afternoon in Polokwane, and Shalulile returned home the same evening.

The Bafana Bafana players travelled from Ivory Coast to Johannesburg on Wednesday, and reported for duty on Thursday.

Shalulile returned to club training on Tuesday already, and will be the first name on Cardoso’s team sheet for the Sekhukhune clash.

The next name will be controversial Bafana midfield general Teboho Mokoena, who did not play against Benin on Tuesday.

The Windhoek-born Shalulile has a good record against the Limpopo club, with four goals and an assist in six previous appearances.

His strike against AmaZulu earlier this month took his tally to 127, and a brace on Friday would put him level with former Bafana Bafana goal ace Nomvethe.

His tally is made up of 89 league and 38 cup goals.

#miguel-cardoso

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