Central Coast Mariners debutant Matt Hatch wrote himself into the record books on Monday night, netting a goal with his first A-League touch.
It was the fastest debut goal in Australian National League’s history, scored after 25 seconds – a blisteringly fast strike credited to a player Mariners head coach Alen Stajcic believes to be ‘one of the quickest players in the world’.
Hatch’s 10-minute cameo in his side’s 2-0 win over Macarthur FC will go down as one of the most memorable debuts in A-League history, joining a list of impressive maiden appearances produced by exciting young Australian talents throughout the years.
Read on to relive some of the stunning first-time showings from A-League starlets on debut.
REPORT: Hatch scores with first touch as Mariners beat Bulls to go seven points clear
REACTION: Ball-boy to record breaker – Hatch writes another chapter in Mariners fairytale
Robbie Kruse – Queensland Roar
October 5, 2007
Robbie Kruse burst onto the A-League scene in 2007 with Queensland Roar (now Brisbane Roar), providing a strong platform to launch a career which took the Socceroos ace to the German Bundesliga and back to Melbourne Victory, where the 32-year-old has plied his trade since 2019.
Kruse made his debut for the Roar on his 19th birthday against Wellington Phoenix. The promising teenager scored on debut in the 45th minute, combining with Michael Zullo (18 years old at the time) to devastating effect on either flank for Frank Farina’s side.
Zullo scored one before assisting Kruse’s maiden A-League goal to help the Roar notch a win over Wellington – an important result for the Queenslanders who had recorded one win in six games to open the 2007/08 campaign.
Craig Goodwin – Melbourne Heart
February 4, 2012
Making his A-League debut at left-back for Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City), a baby-faced Craig Goodwin terrorised Melbourne Victory’s right-flank combination of Marco Rojas and Petar Franjic in an impressive 90-minute display as the two Melbourne sides drew 0-0.
Goodwin, 20, showed no fear of the big occasion in his Melbourne Derby debut, filling in for Aziz Behich while he was on Olyroos duties, and, in front of a packed house at AAMI Park, the first-gamer shone.
Goodwin quelled the danger of Rojas down Victory’s right wing, and made the Kiwi live-wire accountable in defence as he mounted a number of assaults on Franjic at right full-back, who was helpless to Goodwin’s speed and skill. The 20-year-old saw a thunderous strike saved by Ante Covic in the game but could not find a goal or assist for his magnificent debut display, settling for a clean sheet in the goalless affair.
Al Hassan Toure – Adelaide United
October 11, 2019
In a 3-2 loss to Sydney FC, Adelaide United gave the A-League – and the world – the first glimpse of Al Hassan Toure; the eldest of three Toure brothers causing a stir in the City of Churches
Mohamed Toure made his debut in early 2020 while Musa, the youngest brother, is tipped to follow the same path as his two siblings in the future.
But Al Hassan was the first to make his A-League bow, as a 19-year-old in Round 1 of the 2019/20 A-League campaign against the Sky Blues.
Toure was left onside by Sky Blue Paulo Retre, allowing the exciting youngster to collect the ball, shrug off the pressure and slot home a maiden goal on his A-League debut.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6093982891001
Marco Tilio – Sydney FC
February 23, 2020
Marco Tilio scored 75 seconds into his first A-League outing for Sydney FC.
At 18 years of age, Tilio’s goal against the Mariners was the fastest ever A-League goal on debut at the time, and the second-fastest in Australian National League’s history behind Brad Kearton’s strike after 50 seconds for Brisbane Lions in 1983.
That was before Matt Hatch blew them both out of the water on Monday night, but on February 23 of 2020, all eyes were on Tilio, and for the right reasons.
A ruthless goalscorer at youth level for the Sky Blues, Tilio’s first goal at the highest level of Australian football provided a glimpse into the future at what the 19-year-old may be able to produce now that he plies his trade in the blue of Melbourne City.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6135107030001
Calem Nieuwenhof – Sydney FC
January 2, 2021
It may not have hit the back of the net as quickly as Hatch’s maiden A-League strike, but Sydney FC midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof’s long-range stunner, half an hour into his debut game, will be remembered just as vividly for years to come, due to the outrageous nature of the perfect strike.
Nieuwenhof took his place in Steve Corica’s Sydney side for their first game of the 2020/21 A-League campaign. At 19 years of age, Nieuwenhof showed ambition beyond his years to drill a strike from well outside the box into the top left corner, setting up his side’s 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.
The Goal of the Season contender is sure to be on repeat as the talented young midfielder continues to develop his enormous potential.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6219928471001
Matt Hatch – Central Coast Mariners
March 8, 2021
This was the most recent debut of a young Australian talent in an A-League campaign defined by emerging local products seizing the opportunity to impress on the biggest stage.
The story of Matt Hatch’s rise from a Central Coast Mariners ball-boy as a junior to making his debut at 20 years of age was lost amongst the plethora of talking points flowing out of the Mariners’ camp this season. But there was no hiding from the headlines on Monday night, when the speedster scored the fastest ever goal by a debutant in Australian league history.
Hatch came on in the 81st-minute of his side’s clash with Macarthur with the Mariners leading 1-0. He proceeded to link with fellow teenage sensation Alou Kuol to net his side a sealer just 25 seconds after crossing the white line, compounding the belief that this Mariners side are onto something truly special in 2020/21.
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6237884777001
ANNOUNCEMENT: Alou Kuol named February nominee for Young Footballer of the Year