Jacob Windon

6 years ago

Heroic Moments: Stoppage-time hero Ikonomidis proves lightning does strike twice

Perth Glory may well have to start dubbing it Ikonomidis time.

That phrase might not roll off the tongue, unlike the plaudits currently falling at the feet of the former Lazio starlet.

Ikonomidis’ last-gasp winner against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday evening was his second injury-time winner in five matches for the Glory.

Tony Popovic’s side remains unbeaten the summit of the Hyundai A-League, preserved by their Cronulla-born flyer’s latest match-winning contribution.

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It was a moment that not only sparked jubilant scenes by the players on the pitch and got the fans out of their seats, Glory’s official Twitter account also went crazy after Ikonomidis’ last-gasp winner.

There are few other virtues the AFC Champions League-winning coach trumpets like the ability to go guns-blazing for 90 minutes and to get over the line by hook or by crook.

Almost a month to the day of his stoppage-time winner against Melbourne Victory, Ikonomidis was once again the symbol of Popovic’s new, re-enforced grip on Perth.

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These are potentially moments of the title-winning variety.

“He’s very adaptable for a young player, I think that comes from some of the education he got from Italy, tactically,” Popovic said of Ikonomidis.

“I think we underestimate how difficult it is to bring the ball down in injury time when you’re fatigued and have that composure to finish it so well.

“It’s so easy to lean back and put the ball over the crossbar. It just shows the signs of maturity that are coming with him.”

O’Neill off the mark in style

Aiden O’Neill will always remember his first Hyundai A-League goal.

But for the late, late drama that followed his second-half equaliser for the Mariners, O’Neill’s 64th-minute stunner would likely have secured a massive point on the road.

Regardless, the on-loan Burnley midfielder’s sensational strike from outside the area highlighted a match bursting with positives for Mike Mulvey’s side, who will now look to build on their heartbreak in Perth.

WATCH: Every Hyundai A-League goal from Round 5

O’Neill

Taggart and Lopez magic 

Adam Taggart’s clinically-dispatched brace for Brisbane Roar headlined the club’s 2-0 win over Melbourne City, but the performance of Alex Lopez was equally impressive.

Lopez’s lovely outside of the boot pass in the build-up to Taggart’s second illustrated just how crucial a player the Spaniard has become for Aloisi in such a short space of time.

Taggart’s finish was emphatic, and a fitting way for the Queenslanders to seal their first win of the season.

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A century up for Wellington’s Fijian flyer

Roy Krishna stepped out for his 100th appearance for Wellington Phoenix after making his debut in 2014 as an injury replacement for Paul Ifill.

A 3-1 defeat to Adelaide United on Saturday will have stung for Roy Krishna, but the 31-year-old may have solace in a significant personal milestone achieved.

The desired result did not come for Roy Krishna’s Wellington Phoenix, but the Fijian reached a significant personal milestone in Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Adelaide United.

Hyundai A-League debuts

There was a range of debuts in Brisbane’s 2-0 defeat of Melbourne City on Saturday.

Promising Young Socceroo Ramy Najjarine came on for his Hyundai A-League debut, while prolific former NPL QLD striker Dylan Wenzel-Halls was thrown into the fray late on.

There was also a Roar debut for ex-Melbourne Victory man Stefan Nigro.

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