FFA Cup final: Craig Goodwin strikes gold for Reds

Craig Goodwin has etched his name into the short history of the FFA Cup.

Craig Goodwin, left, celebrates his second and match-winning goal for Adelaide United. Picture Sarah Reed

Craig Goodwin has etched his name into the short history of the FFA Cup, producing two stunning goals to help Adelaide United secure their second success in the competition in five years.

In what was a wonderful contest, United became the first club to win the cup twice — following on from winning the inaugural final in 2014 — after beating defending champions Sydney FC 2-1 at Coopers Stadium in front of an almost sold out crowd last night.

United’s win continued the unbeaten record of home teams winning the final and they can thank Goodwin, who set the venue alight with a stunning strike in each half.

The first came from a thunderous left-footed free kick from 20 metres out that opened the scoring on 25 minutes before Sydney struck back via an Adam Le Fondre penalty just two minutes later.

But it was local boy Goodwin, the standout choice as the Mark Viduka Medal winner for the best on the ground last night, who would eventually have the final say, this time blasting a first time shot from just inside the box with his right foot.

Back in Australia after three seasons playing in the Netherlands, the 26-year-old has been in wonderful form both in the cup, where he scored five goals, and the A-League.

He has certainly given Socceroos coach Graham Arnold some serious food for thought.

For his part, Goodwin, who went through a rough trot towards the end of his European journey, said his goals were the stuff of dreams.

“You envisage things like this when you are working your way up. It’s unbelievable and I am lost for words,” Goodwin said. “It doesn’t get as good as this, to win this in front of your home crowd.

“I won the A-League grand final with this club and this is up there with that.”

United coach Marco Kurz, who is in his second season and took them to the final last year when they were beaten by Sydney FC in extra time, refused to take any credit.

“I am proud of the team, the club, the City … this is a dream. I am just the coach, I am not important, this is not about me,” Kurz said.

Sydney coach Steve Corica praised the effort of his players.

“Adelaide fought very hard and scored two very good goals and that is what it came down to,” Corica said. “We had a couple of good chances and on another day they might go in.

“I’ve spoken to the boys and we now need to put it in the past as we have another game on Friday night. It’s a tough schedule with three games in six days.”

The first half was terrific, full of intensity, passion, some rough and tumble from two sides that were not prepared to give an inch.

There were only half chances for both sides in the first 20 minutes before the game exploded on 25 minutes after Rhyan Grant fouled Isaias around 20 metres out.

Goodwin stepped up and delivered a stunning left-footed free kick that gave goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne no hope as the ball thundered into the back of the net.

The atmosphere inside the stadium had been fantastic but it lifted another level following the goal.

The United fans had barely settled back into their seats when they were brought back to earth.

Defender Jordan Elsey was put under pressure and tried to play a pass back to goalkeeper Paul Izzo but did not put enough weight on it, allowing Alex Brosque to pounce.

But as Brosque rounded the keeper, Izzo brought him down and the referee had no alternative but to point to the spot.

Le Fondre, who had scored in every match he had played in with Sydney since signing in the pre-season, thundered the ball into the net from the spot to make it 1-1.

Tensions had simmered for much of the half following some niggling tackles but they boiled over in the 34th minute after a Michael Marrone foul on Milos Ninkovic. That signalled a coming together of a number of players. In the aftermath, Marrone, Isaias and Michael Zullo were all handed yellow cards.

In what was a wonderful contest, United became the first club to win the cup twice — following on from winning the inaugural final in 2014 — after beating defending champions Sydney FC 2-1 at Coopers Stadium in front of an almost sold out crowd last night.

United’s win continued the unbeaten record of home teams winning the final and they can thank Goodwin, who set the venue alight with a stunning strike in each half.

The first came from a thunderous left footed free kick from 20 metres out that opened the scoring on 25 minutes before Sydney struck back via an Adam Le Fondre penalty just two minutes later.

But it was local boy Goodwin, the standout choice as the Mark Viduka Medal winner for the best on the ground last night, who would eventually have the final say, this time blasting a first time shot from just inside the box with his right foot.

Back in Australia after three seasons playing in the Netherlands, the 26-year-old has been in wonderful form both in the cup, where he scored five goals, and the A-League.

He has certainly given Socceroos coach Graham Arnold some serious food for thought.

United coach Marco Kurz, who is in his second season and took them to the final last year when they were beaten by Sydney FC in extra time, refused to take any credit.

“I am proud of the team, the club, the City … this is a dream. I am just the coach, I am not important, this is not about me,” Kurz said.

There was so much to like about what was a terrific first half full of intensity, passion, some rough and tumble from two sides that were not prepared to give an inch.

It wasn’t the dour type of football some had predicted.

Adelaide were clearly intent on starting with a flourish and they dominated the first 10 minutes or so, pinning Sydney in their own half as they tried to exploit the fact the visitors might be a little flat coming off just a three day break.

There were only half chances for both sides in the first 20 minutes before the game exploded on 25 minutes after Rhyan Grant fouled Isaias around 20 metres out.

Goodwin stepped up and delivered a stunning left-footed free kick that gave goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne no hope as the ball thundered into the back of the net.

The atmosphere inside the stadium had been fantastic but it lifted another level following the goal.

The United fans had barely settled back into their seats when they were brought back to earth.

Defender Jordan Elsey was put under pressure and tried to play a pass back to goalkeeper Paul Izzo but did not put enough weight on it, allowing Alex Brosque to pounce.

But as Brosque rounded the keeper, Izzo brought him down and the referee had no alternative but to point to the spot.

Le Fondre, who had scored in every match he had played in with Sydney since signing in the pre-season, thundered the ball into the net from the spot to make it 1-1.

Tensions had simmered for much of the half following some niggling tackles but they boiled over in the 34th minute after a Michael Marrone foul on Milos Ninkovic. That signalled a coming together of a number of players. In the aftermath, Marrone, Isaias and Michael Zullo were all handed yellow cards.

Early in the second half both sides were guilty of committing too many fouls which seriously affected the flow of the game. However, the match livened up again 15 minutes in with both sides having chances during a frenetic five minute period.

The first came on 61 minutes following some lovely interchange passing between Brosque and Ninkovic, with the latter shooting on the turn and forcing a great save from Izzo.