Knockout blows don’t come as special as the one Jeremy Brockie delivered here last night.
The New Zealander ensured that the Nedbank Cup will continue its reputation as a trophy that cannot be defended when his strike sent holders Orlando Pirates tumbling out. Since the green bank took over as the title sponsor of the country’s premier knockout competition in 2008, no team won it back-to-back and the Buccaneers’ hopes of bucking the trend dissipated into the cool Polokwane air.
And what a strike it was that ensured Pirates joined fellow Soweto giants Kaizer Chiefs in exiting the competition, Brockie slamming home a first time volley from inside the box off the root of the upright following a splendid through pass from David Mathebula. The goal was due reward for the striker who came to this country as an unknown but has already established himself as a fantastic finisher for Gordon Igesund’s team. For the entire match, Brockie had threatened to score – his clever runs into spaces not being spotted by the Pirates defence.
The kick-off was delayed by a quarter of an hour after the dreaded load-shedding struck the Limpopo venue, SuperSport started sprightly and forced a corner within the first minute. They went on to dominate the initial 20 minutes, their pace and pressure seemingly too much for Pirates to contend with.
And they could well have taken the lead during that period with Mor Diouf heading David Mathebula’s free-kick straight at Brighton Mhlongo who gratefully pushed the ball away. And then Brockie showed his mastery into creating spaces and chances for himself.
First he headed a Ryan Chapman cross directly at Mhlongo having run away from his marker.
He then shot over from inside the box, again having extricated himself from the attention of the Pirates defenders.
On 25 minutes, the New Zealander beat the offside trap and the attentions of Happy Jele but scuffed his attempt over before forcing a late save from the Buccaneers No1. In between, Dove Wome tested Mhlongo with a shot from just inside the Pirates half and the ’keeper smothered before saving.
Pirates got into the game late in the half and their combination play saw them open up the SuperSport defence but twice within a space of 60 seconds Kermit Erasmus spoiled their good attacks by allowing Ronwen Williams to pick the ball at his feet.
Then in a second half that saw Eric Tinkler’s team entertain the crowd with their slick passing play that had the crowd anticipating a goal, it was Brockie who struck as SuperSport dispatched Pirates from a cup competition for the second time this season.
En route to winning the Telkom Knockout, Matsatsantsa had beaten the Buccaneers in the semi-final. And now Bucs are out of the Nedbank Cup. – The Sunday Independent
Peter Mokaba Stadium
SuperSport United (0) 1
Brockie 73
Orlando Pirates 0