It was fitting that Daniel Adlung picked the Westfield FFA Cup Semi-Final as the time to score his first goal for Adelaide United.
The match was a bruising, take-no-prisoners battle against a Western Sydney Wanderers side fighting to stay in the competition.
Exactly the kind of game Adlung, a former Germany U21 international, later said he relishes.
The tough-tackling midfielder’s second half goal – an absolute bullet from distance – put the seal on a 2-0 victory and sent into Adelaide into the Final to face Sydney FC.
Scoring goals may not be his primary brief, but standing up in big games is the reason Marco Kurz brought his compatriot to Australia.
Adlung’s well-rounded game makes him difficult to contain.
And the former 1860 Munich man, who racked up over 300 appearances in his homeland, will have to do just that to give his side a chance of toppling the Sky Blues at Allianz Stadium.
An injury-hit Reds have encountered a rough patch of form in recent weeks and will need their experienced heads to be at their best on November 21.
Few players will have greater responsibilities on the night, with the 30-year-old likely to help skipper Isaias in marking reigning Johnny Warren Medal winner Milos Ninkovic.
But if Adlung can boss the battle ground as he’s proved capable of doing, a second Westfield FFA Cup trophy might be headed to South Australia.
Another long-range rocket from the powerhouse midfielder wouldn’t hurt either.
