Asian Cup 2015: Mat Ryan still subject of banter after James Troisi wonder goal

JAMES Troisi's stunning halfway strike for his Belgian club four weeks ago is still being talked about, especially as it came at the expense of Mat Ryan.

Socceroos training at Olympic Park. Training at Olympic Park starts at 11am. James Troisi and Matt Ryan goalkeeper ( right ) Picture: Stuart Milligan

JAMES Troisi's stunning halfway strike for Belgian side Zulte-Waregem four weeks ago is still being talked about in Socceroos camp.

Especially because the goal came at the expense of Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan.

The injury time goal in Zulte's 2-1 loss to Ryan's Club Brugge on December 7, hit from inside the centre circle, went viral around the world and Troisi said on Wednesday there's still "a bit of banter" going on about it. Ryan, however, is keen to live it down.

James Troisi and Mat Ryan will play vital roles for the Socceroos.

"Obviously it's all positive for him," he said.

"But it was frustrating, we'd scored just before that. I guess I just (committed) the cardinal sin and switched off.

"I was off my line. I've watched the replay a number of times just to see where I should have done better and I probably should have taken one more step because going back it's hard to tell where the goalline was, I thought I was on it.

"At the end of the day, he probably hit it as perfectly as he could. I can't change that fact, I've just got to learn from it now and hope it doesn't happen again."

Troisi is in career-best form in his first season in Belgium. Melbourne Victory's leading goalscorer from 2013-2014, the 26-year-old attacking midfielder has been a regular fixture for Zulte since making his debut in mid-September, scoring four goals in 14 games.

Ryan said Troisi had made a significant impact in Belgium and that the local media had already taken note.

But Troisi's form notwithstanding, Ryan remains the pre-eminent Aussie in town.

And Troisi himself said the current Socceroos No.1 was a genuine star of the Belgian league.

"Wherever you go everyone knows about him and that's a credit to the way he's been going," Troisi said.

"Especially the last couple of months he's been absolutely on fire. He works hard and he's got that spot for a reason."

Ryan has played every game this season for a Brugge side that sits on top of the league and has only conceded 21 goals in 21 games.

But the 22-year-old said Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou had created a culture whereby no one feels safe in their position.

And with fellow Aussie goalkeeper Mitch Langerak playing five games for Borussia Dortmund in the past month, including a UEFA Champions League game, Ryan isn't resting on his laurels.

"That's the way it should be in the national team," he said.

"I'll just take every game as it comes, if it's me that's fortunate enough to be out there playing then hopefully I can just build on the performances I've had from the games I've played previously."

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Mat Ryan still subject of banter after James Troisi wonder goal