Jeremy Brockie became the leading scorer in South Africa this season after his goal gave SuperSport United a 1-0 Nedbank Cup victory over Moroka Swallows on Tuesday.
The widely travelled 28-year-old from rugby union hotbed Christchurch struck on 52 minutes to settle a close last-32 match at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.
Togolese Dove Wome pushed the ball back to Brockie and, from just outside the box, he steered a superbly-placed shot over Aubrey Mathibe into the roof of the net.
It was his 13th goal in all competitions and only he and Kurt Lentjies of Maritzburg United have scored in all four South African league and cup competitions this season.
The match-winner was a typically clinical finish from Brockie, who joined Pretoria-based SuperSport last season after playing for 11 clubs in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Fond of roaming from his central striker role to the wings, and even helping the defence at set pieces, Brockie has represented his country at age-limit and senior levels.
“Brockie is a natural finisher,” said England-born SuperSport coach Stuart Baxter, who joined the Premiership strugglers recently after Gordon Igesund quit rather than face an end-of-season sacking.
“Give him possession in the right areas of the field and he can inflict damage. He is in a rich vein of form.”
“It was a great goal worthy of winning any match,” admitted former Nigeria goalkeeper Greg Etafia, the coach of bottom-of-the-table second division club Swallows.
Premiership outfit Jomo Cosmos won 3-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1 with second-tier AmaZulu at Olen Park in north-western university town Potchefstroom.
Zimbabwean Denver Mukamba put Cosmos ahead after 20 minutes and Zambian Allan Mukuka levelled on 72 minutes for AmaZulu, who had Senegalese Mame Niang red-carded in extra time. – AFP