Ahead of the Nedbank Cup final, KickOff looks back at how many times the Big Three, including Mamelodi Sundowns, have lost in the final of the tournament.
As things stand, Pirates and Sundowns are the joint-most successful clubs in the competition, since it was sponsored by Nedbank in 2008, with four titles apiece.
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But what about upsets involving the Big Three in the Nedbank Cup final?
Going back to at least since 2006, the men in Black and White were on the losing side in the Absa Cup final (currently Nedbank Cup), succumbing to arch-rivals Amakhosi, who salvaged their season with one trophy - on penalties - following a goalless draw in extra-time.
The Brazilians suffered an upset in the 2007 Absa Cup final after losing 2-0 to Ajax Cape Town (now known as Cape Town Spurs). They had gone in as heavy favourites but were humbled by a youthful side, who actually beat them for the fourth time that season, despite the Tshwane gints enjoying a big lead at the top of the log standings.
Sundowns also had blushes in the 2012 Nedbank Cup final, losing 2-0 to cross-town rivals SuperSport United despite hammering lower-league outfit Powerlines 24-0 in the round of 32.
Pirates will not forget 2016 and 2017 after reaching back-to-back finals yet losing both to Matsatsantsa, who initially edged them 3-2 and then embarrassed them 4-1.
The last time the Glamour Boys lost in a Nedbank Cup final was in 2019, when they fell embarrassingly to hen second-tier side TS Galaxy with a 1-0 scoreline.
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Since 2006, The Buccaneers and the Chloorkop-based team have lost in three Nedbank Cup finals, while Amakhosi have only lost once, though have only reached the final three times since then.
Meanwhile, Pirates and Masandawana have reached six finals apiece (excluding the upcoming one).
