FFA Cup final: Adelaide hero Craig Goodwin calls his second goal against Sydney ‘best of my career’
FFA CUP final star Craig Goodwin scored two fabulous goals in Adelaide’s win over Sydney FC on Tuesday night at Hindmarsh Stadium but admits he will definitely cherish one over the other.
FFA CUP final goal-scoring hero Craig Goodwin calls his second goal in the 2-1 victory over Sydney FC “the best of my career”.
Goodwin hit two stunning strikes at Hindmarsh Stadium but rated his second as the one that he cherished the most in a man of the match performance.
“Me personally, I like the one on the right foot, the second one — obviously it gives us the 2-1 lead at an important time,’’ Goodwin said.
“And for me the second one, it’s probably the best goal of my career in a cup final and one on my right foot as well. It’s not something you see too often on my right foot, on my left foot maybe.
“Yeah, just really ecstatic to have the impact that I have had but all the credit goes to the team, we worked hard together and we stuck together.”
Goodwin also had no idea Socceroos boss Graham Arnold was watching his stunning performance but he certainly gave the former Sydney FC boss something to think about as Australia’s AFC Asian Cup title defence approaches in January.
“I didn’t (know about Arnold) but obviously I got to show what I can do in front of the national team coach. It’s always my aspiration to try and push back into that,’’ said the three-time capped Socceroo.
“But I know to get anywhere near that squad I’m going to have to keep performing consistently and keep doing my best for the team.”
His trademark left boot did lots of damage from 25m before rifling an 18m volley into the roof of the net in the second half after an exquisite lay off from Ben Halloran.
Adam Le Fondre scored from the penalty spot for Sydney.
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz was full of praise for Goodwin and his entire team after a brilliant performance where the German managed to beat Sydney for the first time in six meetings since he took the Reds job last year.
“It’s a special night for us,’’ Kurz said.
“When I saw the 90 minutes, we didn’t play what we expected in the first half but the second half was a lot of pressure, a lot of good moments and in the right moments luck, they hit the crossbar.
“I’m so happy, I’m so proud of the boys. I think today is our night and after the last season we said ‘we will come back for the final’.
“It’s one of my better moments, I have won three trophies, but a trophy after 14 months here is not too bad to win a trophy in Australia and I’m very happy
Kurz was also thankful Goodwin signed for Adelaide after Sydney boss Steve Corica said Goodwin was a target during the off season.
Goodwin returned to Adelaide after two seasons with Sparta Rotterdam of Holland.
“We tried to sign him and that’s why,’’ Corica said.
“For him he wanted to come home, he wanted to make the right choice.”