Even as an Adelaide United supporter, it was hard to begrudge John Aloisi’s goal for Melbourne Heart in last night’s A-League contest at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide – even if it did result in the Reds losing 2-1.
It was a late goal and a fitting Hindmarsh finale for the man who grew up in the City of Churches and played his first professional match with Adelaide City in the NSL.
With Aloisi set to join his brother Ross in playing retirement, this was potentially his last game at the ground where it all started way back in the 1991/92 season with one brief senior appearance for the Zebras.
The celebrations which followed the goal to give the Heart an injury time lead showed how important a strong final performance in his home town was to Aloisi.
It was a celebration well deserved, Aloisi’s goal poaching skills coming to the rescue for his side as their withering final half burst gave the Heart some hope of a late run at the finals in their debut season.
But for Aloisi the goal was nothing new, just a continuation of form that has seen him hit the back of the net in some of the top competitions in Europe.
The striker has the rare honour of netting goals in each of the leading divisions in England, Italy and Spain.
His return to Australia (in 2007/08) has seen mixed success, with a particularly memorable rough trot for Sydney FC (the second of his three A-League clubs, the first being the Central Coast Mariners), blotting the copybook.
He has scored five goals against United in his three-club stint.
However, for most Australians his A-League career is insignificant compared to the moment which resulted in a 200-metre streak of joy at Sydney’s Olympic stadium that would have done gold medal sprinter Cathy Freeman proud.
For those who were living under a rock at the time, in 2005 Aloisi scored the winning penalty which rocketed Australia to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
The moment was later voted by Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame among the top three greatest moments in Australian sport.
It is a night I will remember forever as, I suspect, will Aloisi and millions of other Socceroos fans.
The sheer unbridled joy of that run down the wing after he scored that penalty against Uruguay will be etched in Australian folklore for as long as the green and gold is competing in international circles.
Topping off the qualifying milestone, Aloisi later scored the third goal in Australia’s World Cup return victory against Japan.
For these things and the happiness that Aloisi’s career has brought to many Australians, I will not begrudge him last night’s goal, no matter the impact it has on the Reds’ title hopes.
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