Nestory Irankunda; another week, another free-kick converted by the A-Leagues product.
On Sunday (AEST), Adelaide United export Irankunda scored a stunning free-kick in Watford’s 2-2 draw with Southampton in the EFL Championship.
The 19-year-old sensation, who has been recalled by the Subway Socceroos for the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand, curled a set-piece into the top corner of the net for the second successive game having opened his Watford account via the dead-ball situation against Swansea City.
His exploits have mesmerised Watford fans after swapping German juggernaut Bayern Munich for the Hornets heading into 2025-26 but the teenage prodigy was lighting up the Isuzu UTE A-League long before.
Irankunda produced many highlight-reel moment in the red of Adelaide – from when he scored a free-kick against Newcastle Jets as a 15-year-old to when he thundered an incredible set-piece past Melbourne City.
“I’m not really surprised about the free-kicks because we knew about Nestor’s quality, but we didn’t expect those free-kicks in such a short space of time,” said Watford manager Paulo Pezzolano.
“I can’t remember seeing anyone score two free-kicks like that in successive games. Those were perfect and beautiful free-kicks.
“I am going to be on top of Nestory because he has to keep on growing and developing.
“He has to understand that he needs to keep on working. There is so much more that he can achieve.
“From a fitness point of view, if he makes 20 sprints in a game now, he has to make 30 in the future. If he makes three assists now, he has to make six. And if he scores two goals, he has to score four in the future. He has to improve tactically, when and how to press the opponent.
“We want to help Nestory understand the great player that he can be and to help him become that great player that everybody was expecting in the last two or three years.”
