Young Socceroo Mitch Nichols is making a name for himself scoring important goals but he’s just relieved to have saved himself the embarrassment of conceding one.
Nichols, 19, ensured the Queensland Roar at least salvaged a point by protecting a 1-1 scoreline away to Sydney FC on Friday night by clearing the ball off the line after a late Blues corner.
The speedy attacking midfielder, who last month scored the goal that qualified the Young Socceroos for next year’s Junior World Cup, had just come off the bench.
Assistant coach Rado Vidosic had told Nichols he also had the responsibility of defending at the near post off corners but the young impact weapon forgot in the heat of the battle.
Fortunately stopper Liam Reddy called him back in the nick of time, with his clearance ensuring the Roar stayed in the top four heading into Saturday night’s clash at Central Coast.
“I was lucky to be there in the right spot,” Nichols said on Monday.
“I forgot to be at the post and the goalkeeper called me back at the last minute so it was a bit of luck.
“If (Reddy) didn’t notice I would have got in a bit of trouble.”
The desperate header over the bar came after he scored in his first senior game of the season the previous week, completing a breakthrough 4-1 win over Perth to end the club’s home-ground hoodoo with a late goal off the bench.
Roar coach Frank Farina has banked on the pace of Nichols and fellow young guns Michael Zullo and Tahj Minniecon out near each sideline to turn around the club’s attacking fortunes.
He reverted to a 4-3-3 structure once his Australian U20s were available, following World Cup qualification duties, after an insipid 1-0 loss to Melbourne early last month.
“We’re the only team in the league that has that,” Nichols said. “You can see the opposition find it difficult to defend against. We like to use it.”
Queensland expect to have attacking linchpin Charlie Miller available for Saturday night’s match in Gosford despite a groin strain.
Former Socceroo Danny Tiatto looms as the likely replacement in the starting side with Nichols to continue cooling his heels as a second-half impact weapon.
The Mariners have the Roar in their sights as Queensland are the only club they have never beaten at Bluetongue Stadium.
But the competition’s `Road Warriors’ are currently on a seven-match undefeated away streak and the third-placed Roar’s next goal will be the club’s 100th in the competition.
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