Striker Nick D’Agostino scores vital goals in Olympic qualification and hopes for more minutes with Roar
They were two goals 24 minutes apart but more than a decade in the making — and proved invaluable for both the Olyroos and the 21-year-striker who grabbed them.
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They were two goals 24 minutes apart but more than a decade in the making — and proved invaluable for both the Olyroos and the 21-year-striker who grabbed them.
Nick D’Agostino’s pair of goals against South Korea proved enough to earn Australia passage to the final round of Olympic qualifying, and put the spotlight on a player marked out long ago as having talent but still struggling to cut through in the A-League.
The result meant the Olyroos defied their lack of seeding to qualify for next January’s AFC U23 Championships, where the top three nations will advance to the Tokyo Olympics next year.
After a pair of 6-0 wins, the 21-year-old’s assured finishes helped the Olyroos to a 2-2 draw against Korea in Phnom Penh on Tuesday night, confirming the ability that former Socceroo Craig Moore saw 11 years ago in a junior league match against his son.
“He wasn’t a striker then, he was playing central midfield, but it was the first time since I’d come back to Australia the year before that I’d seen a kid so much better than those around him,” Moore said.
“I’ve known the family since then, and he’s scored goals in the juniors and in the NPL. I’m really pleased he’s done it on this stage now, I know how hard he’s been working.”
The goals were also a welcome highlight in what D’Agostino admits has been “a frustrating season” at Brisbane Roar, where he has started just four games and played only 400 minutes of football. Arnold believes he has the potential to become a Socceroo, but needs game time to realise that.
“I’ve not had a solid 90 minutes week in week out, but you always want to play for your country, it’s a dream for me,” D’Agostino said.
“Graham Arnold gave me my chance and I hope I did him, myself and my family proud. As a team we’d only played three or four games together so the performance against South Korea was outstanding.
“It gives me confidence, scoring for my country, and hopefully I can take that back to Brisbane.”
The striker returns to his club on Thursday afternoon, unsure of whether he will see time against Sydney FC at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night — or much else beyond that, despite having a contract there until the end of next season.
“At Brisbane he’s had lots of little niggles and illnesses, even tonsillitis, a lot of bad luck really, and when he has played it’s been a few minutes here and there, out of position,” said Moore who has been advising the striker on his future.
“He’s definitely a No 9, that’s his position, he can lead the line and has an appetite for hard work.
“It’s an interesting situation now — what he’s done will ask some questions about where Brisbane see him. They’ve signed a couple of other young strikers but he needs to be involved. These players need to be at clubs where they will play.”