He’s just 16 years of age, but Adelaide United forward Nestory Irankunda is returning from the World Cup break eager to make up for lost time.
MATCH REPORT: LATE DRAMA IN REDCLIFFE AS ROAR SNATCH A POINT OFF REDS
Prior to the World Cup, Irankunda was dropped from the Adelaide United squad for disciplinary reasons. The decision came before of one of the club’s biggest games of the season against Melbourne Victory in the Round 6 Original Rivalry.
The Reds resumed their Isuzu UTE A-League Men campaign on Friday night, and head coach Carl Veart brought his young prospect – touted as a future Socceroo – back into the fray as a half-time substitute, challenging Irankunda to impact the goalless affair.
Irankunda repaid the faith, assisting George Blackwood’s second half goal at Kayo Stadium. It looked as if it would be the winner until a red card to Adelaide midfielder Isaías opened the door for Brisbane to snatch a late equaliser.
Irankunda missed a glorious opportunity to make it 2-0 prior to the late leveller. Coming up short in that moment will keep the hunger burning in a player desperate to prove his value in a Reds squad from which he was recently dropped from.
“I’m pretty disappointed with the result, we could have put the game to bed,” the teenager told Paramount+ post-match.
“I had a couple of chances, should have finished them off. I’ve got to work on my finishing and everything, but next time maybe I’ll get a goal depending on the minutes I play, but I’m happy to play of course.”
Irankunda went on to play the most minutes he’s managed in a single match across his 17-game professional professional career so far. It was a showcase of the faith Veart is willing to instil in his young forward after dropping him from the squad altogether less than a month ago.
“(Veart) just asked me to get a goal, be direct and play my game… I reckon I (did) that, yeah. I felt good. Obviously first game back from the World Cup break, I feel fitter of course, coming on for 45. I don’t normally play 45 but I’m happy with my first 45 minutes.
“I was out, there (were) reasons I was out, yeah, but I worked my way up… I’ve been training my hardest to get myself back into the squad. I’m just happy, happy that I’ve earned my spot in the squad and got the minutes I needed.”
Reds head coach Veart spoke about Irankunda’s impact against the Roar post-match.
“We know exactly what he’s capable of,” Veart said. “He’s a 16-year-old kid learning the game, and we had to be patient with him – and everyone around him needs to be patient as well, because he’s going to have lots of ups and downs.
It’s about us as a club, and the team, the players… showing him and developing him not just as a player but as a person as well so that he can go on and play for the Socceroos, hopefully.
“Nestory has been working now with the A-League side (for) 18 months or something like that, he’s been with us for a long time. We’ve slowly given him a little taste every now and then, and hopefully this year we can give him lots of minutes like we did tonight.
“But we’ve got to be careful that we don’t expect too much for him, let him develop, let him learn, let him make mistakes because we want to make sure he gets to a very high level and (to) be the best player that he can be.”
Roar comeback a tale of one substitute’s emphatic impact
In the end, it all came down to two key moments produced by Carlo Armiento.
First, he duped Adelaide’s Isaías into the challenge that reduced Adelaide to 10 men. And then, he drew the foul from Javi López which led to a late Roar penalty – and ultimately cost the Reds two points on the road.
Adelaide were on track to scoop up all three points from their trip to Kayo Stadium to face Brisbane before Armiento made his impact; the late substitute drew Isaías into a careless challenge after beating him with pace and a quick change of direction by the byline. Isaías was subsequently dismissed for a second yellow card offence by referee Alex King.
That card came in the 88th minute, and although late it was not late enough for Adelaide to hold on.
Brisbane capitalised on their one-man advantage, with Armiento again proving a thorn in the side of the Reds. Deep into stoppage time the tricky winger drew another foul, this time off López in the penalty area. King blew his whistle and pointed to the spot. Jay O’Shea stepped forward and dispatched the equaliser with aplomb.
In a game where Brisbane showed a lack of cutting edge and attacking impetus, Armiento’s brief but impactful cameo proved the difference.