Five Harry Kewell strikes to savour

Harry Kewell has decided to pull up stumps on his long and successful football career.

At his best, the ‘Wizard of Oz’ was a match-winner, a world-class player who could provide that little bit of magic, offer that something different, score that crucial goal that could decide a game.

He did that time and time again for both club and country for almost two decades to cement his place as one of Australia’s greatest ever players, if not the greatest.

As we reflect on Kewell’s greatest moments, here are some of the best and most important goals he scored over his 18-year career.

1. Australia versus Iran, 1997
Kewell’s first goal for the Socceroos was a special one. In the two-legged playoff to qualify for the 1998 World Cup, Australia travelled to Tehran to take on Iran. In front a massive crowd, up popped the 19-year-old with a strike that stunned the locals.

The baby-faced forward volleyed past the keeper to announce himself as an international force. The Socceroos would of course go out, after drawing 2-2 in Melbourne where Kewell got on the scoresheet again, but this was the first sign that Australia had a unique talent on its hands.

2. Leeds United versus Sheffield Wednesday, 2000
Kewell scored a hatful of lovely goals for Leeds, but this one stands out.

Audacious, a tad cheeky, here he receives the ball at the top of the box. With space in front of him he sizes up the Owls’ keeper Kevin Pressman and strikes the ball brilliantly with the outside of his left so that it chips over the keeper and goes in off the crossbar.

An outrageous piece of skill you can find at the 1.25 minute mark.

3. Australia versus England, 2003
It might have just been a friendly but this was an important and historic match for the Socceroos. Taking on England at Upton Park, the Aussies shocked the Poms in a 3-1 victory.

In the first half, with the Socceroos up 1-0, a long ball was played along the right flank. Kewell chased it, with Rio Ferdinand in front of him, dispossessed Ferdinand and darted into the box. He then skinned David James and scored into an open goal.

4. Australia versus Croatia, 2006
One of the great nights in Socceroo history. Australia played Croatia with a place in the next round of World Cup 2006 up for grabs. Down 2-1 and seemingly headed out of the tournament, up pops Kewell in the 79th minute.

As so many times before in the green and gold, we could rely on Harry in our moment of need. Mark Bresciano whipped in a cross from the right, it’s headed on and came to Kewell, who controlled it neatly and poked it past the keeper.

A nation erupted in joy and we were through.

5. Australia versus Iraq, 2011
Kewell scored many more exciting goals than this one in club football, for Leeds, Liverpool and Galatasary, but in international football he remained a true clutch player. When the Socceroos needed him to produce in a match, he invariably would.

And so it was against Iraq in the last Asian Cup. In the quarter-final, with the scores locked at 0-0 and a penalty shootout on its way, Matt McKay fired in a cross from the left flank. Kewell leaned back and powered his head onto the ball, firing it past the Iraqi keeper.

Game over, the Socceroos were on their way to the final, Kewell showing he could score with his head as well as his magical left peg.

During his career, Harry Kewell scored a total of 124 goals across 532 appearances. Which were your favourites?

Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson