Any normal teenager would be grinning from ear to ear after smashing home the winning goal under the Coopers Stadium lights.
But, Nestory Irankunda is no ordinary teenager.
The 16-year-old Adelaide United sensation came off the bench and produced a moment of brilliance to secure a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday night.
It was Irankunda’s first goal of the season as the Reds climbed up to third in the standings. However, he was not caught up in the celebrations.
As he stood in front of the Paramount+ cameras, Irankunda showed why is such a special talent in Australia.
“I feel alright. I’m obviously happy to get the goal and help the team out but performance wise, I wasn’t that good. I should’ve done my job properly,” he said.
“It’s great to be at Hindmarsh, to score a goal as well on one of the big stages as well. It feels great just scoring at Hindmash, the atmosphere and everything.
“I have family out here. It just feels good. I had some teachers from my school come watch me. My parents aren’t here. It’s amazing.”
You heard right. Irankunda’s school teachers were in attendance to watch him come off the bench in the 78th minute and find the back of the net in thunderous fashion four minutes later.
It is easy to forget how young he actually he is.
His teachers would’ve been proud of his honesty post-game.
“I know I can score goals, and sprint. It’s my work rate, it’s something I have to work on. I’m not too happy with my work rate,” Irankunda reflected. “It’s a reason to why I haven’t been playing many games – my work rate.
I have to improve on it to become a top player that I want to be. My dream is to become one of the great players in the world and be an inspiration to the kids.
“But the performance, it’s not the best. Could’ve done better. Work rate has to be worked on.”
Irankunda also dedicated his goal to injured teammate Juande, who underwent surgery on the serious knee injury he sustained during last week’s 3-3 draw away to Melbourne City.
“The goal is for Juande to be honest. Juande is one of my great teammates out there. He e and the Spanish boys are always by my side,” he added.
‘An extremely rare talent’
Irankunda is highly rated within Coopers Stadium and beyond, but the 2022 A-Leagues All Star has had to be patient.
Adelaide United head coach Carl Veart has been reluctant to overuse Irankunda, instead drip-feeding appearances this season.
All of his 2022-23 appearances have come off the bench as Veart continues to nurture the teenage talent.
“Nestor is an extremely rare talent that we have to take time with and guide him,” Veart told Paramount+ afterwards.
“We will take that time and give him those opportunities to learn and make mistakes.
“Because when you can produce little bits of magic like that, it’s worth while spending the time we have with him.”
Report – AAA
An 82nd-minute stunner from substitute Nestory Irankunda earned Adelaide United a 2-1 A-League Men victory over Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium.
The goal came against the run of play with the Roar dominating the chances and peppering the Reds’ goal for much of Saturday night’s thrilling encounter.
Adelaide moved up to third place on the ladder, equal on 23 points with Central Coast who sit second with a superior goal difference.
Despite Adelaide’s early possession it was Brisbane who looked the most likely to score first.
Jay O’Shea went close on the quarter hour, watching his volley from the edge of the area deflect narrowly wide, while Joe Knowles fizzed a shot just past the post from 20 metres.
On 25 minutes, the Roar should have found the net from a well-worked corner, with O’Shea and Carlo Armiento combining to send it to the back post.
It was headed across the face of goal for Tom Aldred, but his tap in was cleared off the line by a desperately lunging Javi Lopez.
Brisbane continued to threaten but Adelaide found the opening goal of the game on 34 minutes, thanks to Louis D’Arrigo and a decent amount of luck.
The Reds’ midfielder unleashed 25 metres from goal; the ball slamming off Kai Trewin and into the legs of Aldred. The double deflection twice changed the trajectory of the shot, completely wrong-footing Roar keeper Jordan Holmes before nestling into the bottom corner.
Adelaide’s lead didn’t last long with the visitors deservedly finding the net three minutes later.
Armiento whipped a wicked in-swinging corner to the near post which was completely unguarded, with Knowles getting the final touch and nudging it over the line.
The second half brought much of the same excitement and intensity and on the hour Brisbane thought they had their second.
Armiento scored directly from the corner with Joe Gauci getting his hand to it, but unable to keep it out. VAR intervened and referee Alex King ruled out the goal with Knowles impeding Gauci’s jump.
Soon after, the Roar cleared off the line when Lachie Barr rose highest and headed goalbound from a Craig Goodwin corner.
The visitors continued to carve out opportunities and the go-ahead goal looked imminent.
Henry Hore rattled the crossbar from inside the area after Gauci punched clear a cross from Jack Hingert, before another corner almost undid the home side again.
O’Shea’s lofted cross was drifting in, but Gauci did just enough to keep it out before throwing himself at the subsequent rebound.
Roar substitute Nikola Mileusnic forced Gauci into another save with a powerful low drive that the Reds’ custodian expertly parried away.
For all the Roar’s dominance, it was United who re-took the lead.
Irankunda robbed O’Shea just outside Brisbane’s penalty area, took possession and breezed past two defenders before firing a rocket past Holmes at the near post.
