Tommy Oar may have only graduated from high school this year, but that has not stopped the 17-year-old from impressing in two telling Hyundai A-League cameos off the bench this season for Queensland Roar.
With Sunday night’s match between the Roar and Wellington tied at 2-2, Queensland coach Frank Farina turned to substitute Oar in the 69th minute.
The youngster, who represented the Young Socceroos earlier this year, quickly made an impact, electrifying up front before displaying nerves of steel to slam home the winner from a free kick in extra time.
A coy Oar admitted after the game that the goal was one of the luckier ones he had scored in his lifetime, with the ball deflecting off Phoenix defender Tony Lochhead into the back of the net.
But the teenage sensation was simply happy to be playing first-team football.
“Obviously I’m pretty happy about it … hopefully I can keep pushing for a spot in the squad,” Oar said.
Oar was a part of the successful Young Socceroos campaign at the AFC under-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia, where he played alongside Roar team-mates Luke DeVere, Mitch Nichols and Tahj Minniecon.
Oar believed he gained confidence from watching his international team-mates make the transition back to the Hyundai A-League after the tournament.
“It was good to get experience over there, it was really good technically, so it is good you can bring it back here,” he said.
“I suppose Tahj, Mitch Nichols and Luke DeVere, who all went away with me, have come back here and made their mark.”
“I suppose that shows it can be done, age doesn’t really make a difference, that kind of helped me mentally.”
Roar coach Frank Farina was impressed with Oar.
“No one is guaranteed a place, it’s a super-competitive environment in the squad at the moment, which is healthy,” Farina said.
“But as long as Tommy keeps scoring goals like that, he’s pushing his cause, he’s done well in the two games he has come on.”
Wellington Phoenix coach Ricki Herbert was left frustrated by the way his side quickly squandered its lead in the second half.
“It was a great start for us (to the second half), but it kind of meant nothing when a minute later we were down the other end and back to 2-2,” Herbert said.
The results leaves Wellington three points outside the top four, but Herbert was confident his side could still give the finals a shake.
“It’s certainly not a lost cause for us, we’re back at home next week and the games keep on coming, the results aren’t surprising to me that you see every week, so we’re still a decent shot.”
