Unless you’ve been living in a cave, you’ll have seen Riley McGree’s astonishing scorpion kick goal.
In fact, if you’re like most people you’ll have watched it over and over, each time marvelling at the strike which is being called the greatest goal in Hyundai A-League history.
Behind 1-0 with nearly an hour played, McGree pulled off one of the most incredible pieces of skill ever seen on these shores and instantly put himself in the running for the Ferenc Puskas Award for the most beautiful goal of the year.
???
— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) April 27, 2018
😲 "OH MY GOODNESS! OH MY GOODNESS!" 😲
Stunning scorpion kick while on the run by Riley McGree!!!
One of the most amazing goals you will EVER, EVER see 🔥 pic.twitter.com/stUKyi2Cs3
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) April 27, 2018
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING!!!
Riley McGree has just scored one of the GREATEST goals you'll ever see for Newcastle Jets. The Puskas Award is decided already! 👏🔥😲https://t.co/2QObyPPAF8 pic.twitter.com/BJAElzTsAB
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) April 27, 2018
https://twitter.com/TheMasterBucks/status/989831828260311042
https://twitter.com/NedZelic/status/989825156540391425
What. A. Goal.
Take a bow, Riley McGree. pic.twitter.com/IrnwGa7u8q
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 27, 2018
⚽️ RT @ALeague: 🤯🙌 Riley McGree!!!
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/edp9CL9c8e
— Jme (@JmeBBK) April 28, 2018
🦂
This is special.
19-year-old Riley McGree scored a ridiculous scorpion kick in the A-League semi-final.
🎥 https://t.co/gqqBhHZuey pic.twitter.com/G66Xj9Xpqm
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 28, 2018
Let Riley McGree get your weekend started with this insane 🦂 golazo (📹:@NewcastleJetsFC)pic.twitter.com/erQ4wz03XF
— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) April 27, 2018
What. A. Goal.
Take a bow, Riley McGree 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/thOwZpYrdK
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) April 27, 2018
This could be a contender for the Puskas award 👏https://t.co/lIYxNqqJFB
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 29, 2018
Within minutes of McGree’s audacious effort bulging the net and drawing the Jets level in their semi-final against Melbourne City, the magical moment had gone viral and was being viewed by millions of football fans the world over.
Riley McGree may never score another goal like that – he probably couldn’t if he tried – but he’ll always have the footage to remind him of the night he scored the best goal in the world.
WATCH: McGree’s incredible ‘scorpion-kick’ goal
TERRY ATONES IN ANOTHER SEMI-FINAL CLASSIC
In Hyundai A-League semi-final number two on Saturday night, football again demonstrated its ability to send players and fans to the opposite the ends of the emotional spectrum.
With Victory 2-1 ahead of defending champions Sydney FC deep into added time, Terry Antonis inexplicably sliced the ball into his own net before collapsing to the turf in utter despair as the Sky Blues danced around him, scarcely believing their luck.
But the deflated Victory midfielder – who in truth had been the best player on the park – picked himself and took the fight to Sydney FC in extra-time.
With the minutes ticking away and penalties looming, Antonis won the ball against the odds on half-way and drove towards the opposition goal, before beating Andrew Redmayne with the aid of a deflection from Alex Wilkinson.
Terry Antonis' reaction to his extra time goal.
Wow, tears from the midfielder. What a rollercoaster our game can be. pic.twitter.com/9CwuZqD9jJ
— FOX SPORTS Football (@FOXFootballLive) April 28, 2018
The catastrophe of the own-goal was instantly forgotten as an emotional Antonis was engulfed by fans and team-mates alike as they celebrated a return to the Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
BOOGS BOUNCES BACK FROM ‘SEASON-ENDING’ BREAK
When Nigel Boogaard fractured his knee in the closing stages of Newcastle’s 2-1 win over Sydney FC in early March, his season appeared all but over.
But noises started to emerge in the last fortnight that such was the progress the Jets skipper was making, a return to the side wasn’t just possible, but actually likely.
And so it proved to be with Boogaard returning to lead his team in their come-from-behind win over Melbourne City to set up an historic first Hyundai A-League Grand Final in the Hunter Valley.
His powers of recovery and triumph over adversity are simply another example of the way Newcastle have dealt with everything thrown their way in 2017/18, emerging with a chance to play for the biggest prize of all on Saturday night.
