Amidst the buzz of excitement around Adelaide United teenager Nestory Irankunda comes a word of caution from Reds boss Carl Veart, writes Matt Comito from HBF Park.
RE-LIVE: Irankunda’s insane 99th minute twist caps one of the wildest games in A-Leagues history
In the ninth minute of extra time, there was Nestory Irankunda.
Adelaide United’s 17-year-old sensation backflipped his way into the spotlight again on Sunday night, with a 99th-minute equaliser to rescue his side a point in a 4-4 draw with Perth Glory.
It was an Isuzu UTE A-League classic at HBF Park: it featured eight goals (three in stoppage time), multiple lead changes – and one teenager who stole the show at the death with the epitome of a last-gasp strike.
With his eighth A-League Men goal, Irankunda surpassed Mohamed Toure as the competition’s record under-18 goalscorer. Toure scored seven before his 18th birthday. Irankunda has eight – he only turned 17 in February.
There’s no containing the hype surrounding the Tanzanian-born Socceroos squad member now. But, an off-camera moment of uncontrolled frustration just minutes before his clinical equaliser showed exactly why his club is working so hard to nurture the passionate prodigy, who Adelaide head coach Carl Veart is determined to help “become the best player in Australia.”
Irankunda earned a yellow card just moments after Glory’s equalising goal at 3-3 in the 93rd minute. He was bodied over the touchline by Glory defender Darryl Lachman, and picked up the ball in readiness for an Adelaide throw. The referee’s signal was: Glory ball.
Irankunda slammed the ball to the turf, turned toward the broadcaster’s pitchside microphone, and kicked it.
“No I didn’t (see it),” said Veart, when quizzed by reporters post-match. “I didn’t even know he’d been booked.
“We’ve still got to remember, he’s just turned 17.
“Even though he’s a 17-year-old there’s a lot of pressure on him, from everyone, because of what he can do.
“It’s important we don’t put too much pressure on the kid. Let him develop and let him make mistakes, and become the best player in Australia – because I believe he can be.
“It’s just a matter of taking time with him, and making sure he’s doing the right things. It’s going to take time.”
It was a rash moment in an otherwise brilliant bench cameo from Irankunda, who replaced the superb Luka Jovanovic at the 63-minute mark.
Jovanovic, like Irankunda, is 17 years of age and thriving at Adelaide under Veart.
After coming off the bench, Irankunda initially played up top in Jovanovic’s absence. Then, George Blackwood was summoned by Veart to fill that role, allowing Irankunda to slip into his preferred position on the right of the attack.
From there he wreaked havoc, stretching the pitch with his pace and direct running
“He scored the goal, but (also) provided quite a few highlights in his 30 minutes on the pitch tonight,” Veart said. “We all know he’s a special talent, it’s a matter of him keep working, and doing the right things to allow his talent to show like it did tonight.”
Jovanovic was picked to lead the line for the Reds in place of the injured Hiroshi Ibusuki, and scored his third goal of the season in the first half, cancelling out Ryan Williams’ opener.
He was one of two teenage starters for Adelaide United, alongside 18-year-old Jonny Yull.
Yull, who trialled at English club Chelsea in mid-2022, endured a stress fracture in his back that hampered his start to the 2022-23 season.
Sunday night’s clash with Perth was his first start in the A-League Men.
Adelaide needed a result on the road to keep pole position in the race to secure second spot, and Veart left the keys to his attack in the hands of a 17-year-old striker and an 18-year-old at number 10 – two players barely old enough to have their P plates.
It was Yull’s turn through traffic that set up Adelaide’s second goal of the game; he was clattered for his efforts in midfield, but did just enough to set Louis D’Arrigo free to spark the chain reaction that led to Craig Goodwin’s close-range finish.
“I thought he was outstanding,” said Veart when surmising Yull’s 70-minute display.
“Jonny I think can go a long way in the game. He’s got two great feet, he takes up great positioning, it’s just a little bit of time we have to spend with him to make sure his body is right.
“You saw tonight, he could only play 60-odd minutes. We’re very fortunate we’ve got some really good young kids at the club, and we make sure we give them the right introduction to what it takes to be a professional at the highest level.”
Together Jovanovic, Irankunda and Yull shone brightly in the West on Sunday night; they’re just some of the beneficiaries of Adelaide United’s commendable youth policy which has shone through under Veart.
The club’s young prospects are not just thriving in the A-League Men, but dominating the NPL; Adelaide currently sit top of the NPL South Australia table after eight rounds, where so many of the club’s emerging players, who regularly feature on Veart’s team sheets, are scoring goals for fun.
When the A-League Men Finals Series begins, don’t expect Veart to change tack. The Adelaide head coach says he’s willing to back his young players in until the end because, like Irankunda displayed on Sunday night, you never quite know what they’re going to come up with next.
“It’s just a reflection of what we want to be as a club,” Veart said. “We back (young players) in, and give them that opportunity.
“I’ll always say this: young kids will surprise you. Yes, they will make mistakes, but there’s a lot of upside. They give a lot of energy, and at times they play with no fear.
“It takes a lot of things to align to get there. We’ve relied a lot on our younger players this year, they’ve played big minutes in crucial games as well. And that won’t change while I’m still here at the club, I still want to do that.”
