Teenager breaks SA goal scoring record, Reds close in on Dutch assistant, Kings gun bags four
The teenage scorer of SA’s fastest women’s soccer goal has revealed the secret behind her record-breaking strike, Adelaide United closes in on an overseas assistant coach and a young gun bags four to seal cup glory, all in 90 Minutes.
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The teenage scorer of SA’s fastest top-flight women’s soccer goal has revealed the secret behind her record-breaking strike.
Ella Tonkin got on the end of a through ball straight from kick-off to give Football Federation SA’s National Training Centre an eight-second lead against Metro United a fortnight ago.
The goal, a deft right-footed lob over the goalkeeper from a pinpoint Zoe Tolland assist, was the earliest recorded in Women’s National Premier Leagues SA history.
Tonkin, 16, said it owed everything to a set piece devised by coach Michele Lastella and hours spent on the training pitch perfecting it.
“It all happened so fast, it was just insane,” said Tonkin, who was playing as a defensive midfielder but had also featured as a No.10 this year.
“Since the start of the season we’ve been practising that move in training, so to see it come off felt amazing.
“As you can see from our reaction (in the video of the goal) we were pretty surprised and overwhelmed.
“The whole year we tired to give it a go and to see it finally work out was just mind-boggling.
“He (Lastella) was so happy that what we worked on had paid off, but he was like ‘girls keep it quiet, we want to use it against the other teams’.
“Then it happened to go viral (online) and he was like ‘well that plan is spoiled’.”
Tonkin was not done there against Metro, as she rifled in a long range strike — remarkably in the fourth-minute of stoppage time — to complete a memorable personal display.
Her heroics were not enough to prevent the second-bottom NTC slipping to a 3-2 loss to fourth-placed United at the Parks.
But the Year 11 St Dominic’s Priory College student said her efforts had raised hopes the youngsters could climb the table in the remaining seven games of the campaign.
“It was an amazing feeling when I found out (about the record),” the Raiders junior said.
“We’re still talking about it at training.
“It was a great team goal and great moment for our team.
“To see it recognised by others in the community is just great.
“As the season progresses, we just keep on improving and improving.
“The next few games I’m really confident and I believe in us to maybe move up a couple of positions if we keep working hard.”
The NTC faces Adelaide Comets at TK Shutter Reserve on Saturday.
Reds backroom boost
Adelaide United is on the cusp of locking in its new assistant coaches and one of them may soon be following incoming boss Gertjan Verbeek from the Netherlands.
The Reds this week confirmed they were close to appointing the pair of mentors who would support Verbeek during his debut A-League campaign.
Dutchman Gerald Sibon had emerged as a frontrunner to become the overseas-based assistant expected to form part of United’s new-look backroom team.
Director of football Bruce Djite refused to comment when asked if the former Melbourne Heart, now City, striker was on his way to Adelaide.
But a range of media sources in the Netherlands had continued to link Sibon with the Reds job, eight years after he scored seven goals in 27 games Down Under.
Djite said the other assistant, who would be an Australian, was on the verge of agreeing terms.
“We’re working on the other one (Australian) now,” Djite said.
“Something should be announced in the not too distant future.”
Verbeek arrived in SA on Monday night ahead of pre-season training kicking off next week.
United front for recruiting
The Reds meanwhile have confirmed general manager of football Ante Kovacevic will remain in his position following the arrival of Djite.
Kovacevic joined United in 2015 as football operations manager and had been responsible for everything from finding and signing players and coaches, to the team’s match-day logistics.
Djite’s return to the club as director of football had led to Adelaide’s all-time record goal scorer taking on a lead role in recruiting new personnel and negotiating contracts.
But a Reds spokesman said Kovacevic would remain a key part of United’s football subcommittee with a slightly reduced workload.
The ex-Adelaide City, Melbourne Knights and Perth Glory defender would still be responsible for ensuring the team’s travel and training arrangements were in place, and liaising with FFA.
Kovacevic, 45, would also work closely with Djite and Verbeek to oversee recruitment strategies, talent identification and salary cap management.
Goal scoring King
Saturday’s FFA Cup SA final served up a five-goal thriller, but there was an even more impressive scoring feat in the reserves decider which preceded it.
Eric Scardigno bagged a hat-trick to hand Croydon Kings a seemingly unassailable 3-1 lead with 10 minutes remaining against Adelaide Comets.
But two late goals, including a 94th minute equaliser by Comets’ Nikolas Ikonomopoulos, took the rollercoaster clash to extra-time and delayed kick-off in the senior match.
Just when penalties were looming, up bobbed Scardigno to snatch the winner in the first half of additional play and secure the Kings’ maiden reserves cup.
Not surprisingly the young forward, who had plundered 14 goals in all competitions this campaign, was awarded man-of-the-match honours.
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