Jaiden Kucharski spoiled the party at Suncorp Stadium, where the super-sub scored a memorable 90th-minute goal to lead Sydney FC past Brisbane Roar 3-2 in Round 3 of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Brisbane thought they had earned a point thanks to their Indonesia international Rafael Struick, who equalised in the 78th minute on Friday night.
But Kucharski and the Sky Blues had other ideas as the 22-year-old came off the bench and found the back of the net within a minute of his introduction with an “absolute rocket”, according to Paramount+ commentator and former A-Leagues striker Daniel McBreen.
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“It’s good. The subs are meant to come on and make a difference so I’m glad I could pull through for the team,” Kucharski told Paramount+ post-match.
“JK is the guy who shoots 10 and scores eight or nine at training, so I wasn’t surprised but from the left, maybe a little bit. A great finish,” said man-of-the-match and Sydney teammate Klimala.
Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay added: “That’s his speciality anyway. In and around the box, right and left foot, he can strike a ball… I’m ecstatic for JK to come on and score a goal like that.”
It was a wild finale in Brisbane, where all four goals were scored in the second half.
Ex-Celtic striker Patryk Klimala broke the deadlock in the 51st minute before young gun Thomas Waddingham – who has been linked with German giants Bayern Munich and Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, restored parity with his first goal of the season.
Leo Sena’s first club goal since 2016 put Sydney ahead again in the 71st minute, only for Struick to level the contest seven minutes later – his first A-Leagues goal in just his second appearance.
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But Kucharski had the final say as Ufuk Talay’s Sydney celebrated their second victory of the campaign after last week’s loss at Auckland FC, while the Roar were condemned to a second loss from two fixtures.
Back in action after their round-two bye, Brisbane named a highly-rated young gun and potential debutant on the bench – Lucas Herrington.
Sydney, meanwhile, were without injured star duo Douglas Costa and Joe Lolley. That meant academy graduates Tiago Quintal, Marin France and Will Kennedy were among the substitutes in Brisbane.
The Sky Blues controlled proceedings in wet conditions at Suncorp Stadium, where the visitors ended the first half with 72.9%.
Former Roar defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins forced Brisbane goalkeeper Macklin Freke into a save from long range before the star shot-stopper was called into action once more in the 26th minute – scrambling to keep out Max Burgess’ deflected effort.
During the closing stages of the opening half, Ben Warland had a great chance from a corner to put the Roar ahead but the defender header over the crossbar.
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The Roar made a bright start to the second half after Brisbane pounced on Sydney’s high line as Thomas Waddingham sprung the offside trap and saw his shot hit the post inside two minutes of the restart.
But Sydney survived that early scare and broke the deadlock in the 51st minute. Roar were made to pay for a poor pass out of defence – Courtney-Perkins’ neat dummy released Klimala, who finished expertly.
Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne made himself big to keep out Warland’s header in the 58th minute.
But after hitting the post earlier in the half, Waddingham was not to be denied later as Florin Berenguer’s defence-splitting pass released the talented forward, who riffled the ball underneath Andrew Redmayne.
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Waddingham and Roar’s joy was short-lived, however. Sydney restored their lead four minutes later – sublime combination work between Leo Sena and Anas Ouahim helped put the Sky Blues ahead in the 71st minute.
Klimala had the ball in the back of the net four minutes later but it was ruled offside.
The Roar did not drop their heads and restored parity 11 minutes from the end when Indonesian star Struick came off the bench and equalised after an assist from Waddingham.
There was a desperate goal-mouth scramble which Brisbane somehow survived during the closing stages but they had no answer for Kucharski’s incredible winner.
