An audacious goal from Italian star Alessandro Diamanti has secured Western United another win in Tasmania.
With United’s clash at North Hobart Stadium on Saturday against Sydney FC seemingly headed for a scoreless stalemate, a piece of brilliance from the evergreen Diamanti clinched the champions a 1-0 win.
Having only entered the contest a few minutes earlier, Diamanti gathered the ball just inside Sydney’s half and spotted Sky Blues goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne off his line.
The 39-year-old playmaker then unleashed a shot from more than 40 metres out that was too good for a back-pedalling Redmayne.
Diamanti was subsequently shown a yellow card by referee Alex King for taking off his shirt during his celebrations.
However, he didn’t care as he soaked up the adulation of the 86th-minute goal as well as a much-needed win for United.
“I deserve it because I don’t give up,” Diamanti told Paramount +.
“Sometimes you have to try something different. When the game is even and tough, you have to think out of the box.
“I’m very happy that we won and got the three points because we needed them.”
Redmayne said he was beaten by a “bit of quality”.
“Credit to him – that’s why he gets all the plaudits,” the Sydney gloveman said.
United is now unbeaten in six matches in Tasmania, with a record of four wins and two draws.
While United were celebrating, Sydney’s season continued to spiral, with the Sky Blues now having lost seven from 13 matches as the pressure mounts on coach Steve Corica.
The Sky Blues had two good chances in the opening 15 minute but failed to make the most of them, with English striker Adam Le Fondre failing to hit the target and his countryman Joe Lolley barely testing United goalkeeper Jamie Young.
Sydney’s other attacking import, Slovakian winger Robert Mak, seemed certain to score in the 33rd minute but was denied by Young from point-blank range.
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The Sky Blues continued to waste chances for the remainder of the half, with midfielders Max Burgess and Anthony Caceres both missing the targets with lazy efforts.
United rarely threatened in the first half, with their best moment being a sizzling long-distance strike from Mail international midfielder Tongo Doumbia.
Caceres blew another golden opportunity less than two minutes into the second half after running on to a short pass from Le Fondre.
The finish failed to match the build-up, with a Caceres shot that lacked power and placement being comfortably saved by Young,
United had the ball in the back of the net in the 49th minute but celebrations were cut shot when would-be scorer Dylan Pierias was correctly ruled offside by the assistant referee. Pierias had another chance in the 75th minute but Redmayne tipped his shot over the crossbar.
However, Redmayne had no answer to Diamanti’s late heroics as United again prevailed in the Apple Isle.