Nestory Irankunda. The Isuzu UTE A-League is running out of superlatives to describe Adelaide United’s teenage sensation.
He is only 17 years of age but the most exciting teenage talent in the competition already has a growing list of show-reel goals. Add Sunday’s 87th-minute stunner to the collection.
“That is Ronaldo-esque of the Cristiano variety,” Network 10 co-commentator Andy Harper beamed during Sunday’s 1-1 draw between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide.
It was a goal that would have made one of the all-time great footballers proud.
His ‘knuckle-ball’ strike – a technique perfected by Cristiano Ronaldo – salvaged a 1-1 draw for Adelaide in their Pride Cup encounter with Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Victory thought they had sealed back-to-back wins in the Pride Cup thanks to Bruno Fornaroli’s 81st-minute penalty.
But substitute Irankunda, like he always does, had other ideas.
The clock was winding down but time stood still for the prodigy in Melbourne, where his celebration was fitting of a memorable moment.
“Benny picked up the ball, he played it to me,” Irankunda said post-game.
“I got caught in two minds, whether to hit it with my power or try a new technique I’ve been learning at training. So I chose to use the new technique I’ve been learning and it worked.”
It is a technique he has seemingly already mastered.
Irankunda doesn’t do boring. Just look at some of his training-ground footage.
“I don’t think I can score tap-ins. I don’t like them sort of goals,” he explained.
In training, I normally practice bicycle kicks, headers, shots from outside the box. Never really tap-ins.
On his overall performance, Irankunda – normally his own biggest critic – added: “It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the game.
“But I reckon I did alright today. I think I did better than I have all season. One of my best games to be honest.”
As soon as his pitch-side interview finished, Network 10 analysts Archie Thompson and Bruce Djite – both former A-Leagues strikers – were left in awe.
“He doesn’t do tap-ins. He just scores worldies,” A-League Men legend Thompson said.
“This is just incredible. We just looked at each other Bruce. I mean the way he hit this ball, the knuckle-ball. I could never perfect but he just seems to find it week in, week out.”
Ex-Reds forward Djite said: “I see a man who has perfected a technique with a week of practicing it.
“… that is a very, very tough technique to pull off. What a fantastic goal. Amazing.”
‘He is a type of player that makes me smile’
Irankunda. He is no ordinary teenager and it is clear with how Adelaide handle the special talent.
He is highly rated within Coopers Stadium and beyond, but head coach Carl Veart continues to be reluctant to overuse him. Instead, drip-feeding appearances this season.
Irankunda is yet to start in 2022-23, but he has come off the bench to score twice for the Reds.
“He is a very rare talent. We know that and we’re looking after him,” Veart said.
He is a type of player that makes me smile. Hopefully he can go on to reach his potential because his potential is unbelievable.
Was it a penalty?
When referee Shaun Evans pointed to the spot, Adelaide were left dismayed.
Alexandar Popovic was stunned as Evans brandished a yellow card. Adelaide head coach Veart was seething.
Popovic had been penalised for making contact with Damien Da Silva’s shin as the pair tussled for a corner. VAR had encouraged Evans to assess the incident pitch-side.
“Look it’s a tough one to take,” Veart told Network 10. “There were only two people in the world who thought it was a penalty and unfortunately they are the ones who made the decision.”
The man at the centre of it, Victory centre-back Da Silva, had his say.
“I think it was an accident,” he admitted.
There was also an incident involving Fornaroli, who escaped with a yellow card after striking Popovic in the face.
“Lets stop referring the game from a little box in Sydney and let the guy on the pitch do the job,” added Veart.
Victory sweating on Brimmer fitness
There were concerning scenes at AAMI Park, when reigning Johnny Warren Medallist Jake Brimmer hobbled off the ground and down the tunnel.
Brimmer was grimacing in pain as the stretcher arrived on the field prior to half-time. While the stretcher was not needed, the Victory star could not continue with the knee injury.
Victory are optimistic the injury is only on the minor side but time will tell.
“I think we created a lot of chances, especially in the first 45 minutes,” goalscorer Fornaroli reflected.
“We lost Jakey, who is a very important player for us. We kept trying, finally we found a goal but we couldn’t sustain 1-0 and they drew.”
He continued: “It’s different for me. Especially what I think about him. He is a different player in this league. You can see the way he plays.
“Playing close to him is very important for me. I understand him a lot. It’s a big miss for the team. I hope he is well and can recover quickly.”
Report – AAP
Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United settle for a point apiece in the A-League Men’s first Pride Cup after they played out a dramatic 1-1 draw at AAMI Park.
Bruno Fornaroli’s 81st-minute penalty, awarded after VAR intervention spotted a foul on Damien Da Silva by Alexandar Popovic, appeared to have given the hosts the win.
But no team in ALM has proven more adept at late comebacks than Adelaide in recent years and Sunday was no different.
A late strike from teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda in the 87th minute rescued a point for the visitors.
Receiving a pass well outside of Victory’s penalty area, the 17-year-old promptly launched a thunderbolt that Paul Izzo had no chance of saving into the top corner of the net before backflipping away in celebration.
Now part of a three-way logjam of sides sitting second through to fourth on 28 points, the Reds are unbeaten in their past seven matches.
Though conceding a late leveller, Victory will still take heart from picking up seven points from a possible 12 across the past month and looking much improved from the side that was languishing at the foot of the ALM table.
They were, however, dealt what could be a major blow just before halftime when playmaker Jake Brimmer suffered a potentially major injury.
The 24-year-old went down to the turf holding his left knee after a contest with Javi Lopez and though able to wave away a stretcher, he required support from Victory trainers as he hobbled down the players’ race.
Wearing pride kits to mark the inaugural staging of what will become an annual fixture between the two celebrating LGBTQI inclusion, both sides created enough opportunities to justify a goal throughout the contest but couldn’t find a way through until the explosion of late drama.
