With a spot in the A-League grand final on the line and redemption for a club that has badly struggled for seven long years, there couldn’t have been a better time to score any goal, let alone this goal.
The home fans couldn’t believe it. The Newcastle Jets bench couldn’t believe it. And neither could Riley McGree.
After Bruno Fornaroli’s scrappy goal handed visitors Melbourne City an early lead, and after the Jets had spurned several good chances to draw level, in the 57th minute, from a seemingly innocuous passage of play; this.
McDonald Jones Stadium erupted with delight at the 19-year-old’s goal, just the sixth of his career.
It was as outrageous as it was unexpected, but McGree appeared to play down the attempt at full-time.
“I did get a bit lucky but I had the momentum going forward and it happened to go in. I’m pretty happy,” he told Fox Sports.
“Definitely a bit of fluke but you’ve got to try it to get it.”
The goal sent the crowd into meltdown, and garnered the approval of two of the league’s greatest ever goalscorers as both Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz took to social media to commend the effort.
“That’s got to be the best goal I’ve seen in a-league history,” wrote Thompson.
Smeltz, who plundered 92 goals in his prolific A-League career, suggested the A-League would be mad not to cash in on the moment.
“Hahahaha I just can’t stop watching the McGree goal ... analysing it ... just Brilliant & what a bit of marketing for the A-League,” he tweeted.
As the Australian football community melted down over the goal, one man sat unmoved on the Jets bench.
Lobbing the keeper with a first time backheel from the edge of the area doesn't impress Ernie Merrick anymore. He has no use for our mortal concept of 'pleasure'. #NEWvMCY pic.twitter.com/qXZQfDbG55
— DestructionInTheBox (@DITBPod) April 27, 2018
McGree wasn’t fazed by his coach’s reaction, joking when interviewed post-game.
“He’s always like that. He doesn’t show emotion at all,” he said.
The experienced Scot did however allow himself a wee celebration at the post-game press conference, where he arrived with a beer, and then told the gathered journalists that McGree’s effort was something worked on on the training ground.
Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick said Riley McGree had been practicing THAT goal. pic.twitter.com/RUCPJpiiUc
— Newcastle Herald (@newcastleherald) April 27, 2018
No wonder he was celebrating. A year ago the Jets had received the A-League’s wooden spoon, but with the arrival of the former Wellington Phoenix coach, Newcastle now have booked a second grand final, and their first since 2007-08.
Join the conversation: is this the BEST A-League goal we’ve ever seen? Send us your comments to join the debate.
