This weekend, Westpac Stadium will host it’s 100th A-League game. To celebrate, here’s a list of the 10
goals scored by the Nix!
This weekend, Westpac Stadium will host it’s 100th A-League game. To celebrate, here’s a list of the best goals scored by the Phoenix at the Ring of Fire.
10. Dani Sanchez vs Newcastle Jets, Round 12 2011/12
The goal is on the list not because of the final shot, but because of the build up play that led to the first. Spaniard to play in the A-League to score. After Durante played a long ball forward to Manny Muscat, Manny played a one touch looping pass to Daniel, who in turned played a one touch looping pass to Sanchez, who controlled the ball and slotted it into the back of the net on the way to a 5-2 win.
9. Nick Ward vs Sydney FC, Round 6 2010/11
After a Paul Ifill penalty and a Bruno Cazarine goal had the scored locked at 1-1, Nick Ward stepped up and played a nice one-two with Chris Greenacre. After getting the ball back, Ward unleased a onetouch bullet of a shot into the top corner of the net.
8. Paul Ifill vs Central Coast Mariners, Round 3 2010/11
Perhaps the most audacious of the many goals that Paul Ifill scored at Westpac Stadium, and the man himself considers this one to be his favourite goal while in yellow and black. Tim Brown played a lofted through ball, and Iff’s beat the offside trap before using the outside of his left boot to curl his shot into the back of the net.
7. Louis Fenton vs Sydney FC, Round 1 2011/12
What a way to introduce yourself to the A-League. With all the hype around this game being about Del Piero’s first game in the A-League, it was instead the local lad from Tawa who took his chance to shine. Manny Muscat put in a peach of a cross in, and Fenton launched himself at the ball with a diving header and scored, before running over to the Fever Zone to celebrate.
6. Kenny Cunningham vs Melbourne Victory, Round 15 2013/14
One of two lobs on this list, this one was scored by Kenny Cunningham in the first of his two seasons at the Nix. After receiving a pass from compatriot Carlos Hernandez, Kenny controlled the ball and then lobbed the ball over Nathan Coe in goal, who couldn’t stop it despite a diving effort.
5. Paul Ifill vs Newcastle Jets, Preliminary final 2009/10
This one is perhaps the most memorable Phoenix goal of all. In the 105th minute of the home playoff against Newcastle Jets, Ifill received the ball on the edge of the area. After some trademark Ifill footwork, he worked the ball onto his right foot and took a shot at goal, one that resulted in him running 80m towards the Yellow Fever to celebrate.
4. Tim Brown vs Sydney, Round 6 2011/12
After Tim Brown caught Nicky Carle napping in the centre circle and stole the ball, nobody expected him to shoot. But shoot is exactly what he did, and he sent the ball looping over Liam Reddy and into the back of the net.
3. Shane Smeltz vs Melbourne Victory, Round 13 2008/09
The only goal on the list to win A-League goal of the season, this was one of 12 goals that Smeltz scored in 2008/09 on his way to winning the A-League Golden Boot. With the score locked at 1-1, Smeltzy received the ball with his back to goal, turned around, and forward and got a shot away despite the three defenders surrounding him, and the ball flew into the back of the net.
2. Eugene Dadi vs Brisbane Roar, Round 22 2009/10
The second of two debut goals on this list, Eugene Dadi scored from one of the hardest shots to pull off in football, the bicycle kick. After a corner been whipped into the far post and headed back towards the penalty spot, Dadi decided that the fact he was moving away from goal and facing the wrong way was no obstacle in his quest for a goal, and looped the ball into the goal and sealed a 2-0 win for the Nix.
1. Roly Bonevacia vs Adelaide, Round 6 2015/16
In one of the more emotional games that the Nix have played thanks to the #SaveTheNix campaign, Roly Bonevacia unleashed one of the best strikes ever seen in the A-League. With no defenders expecting him to shoot, he was allowed time and space outside the box, and didn’t need a second invitation to take a shot on goal.
