You tell me.
In the history of Australian sport, has there ever been a magic moment manqué quite like it? I am talking a moment just missed, a moment where the stakes were so enormous, the set-up so dramatic, the derring-do so inspirational . . . and everything positioned perfectly to provide a moment that would be talked about and gloried in for decades to come . . . only for it to just miss by a hair’s breadth.
You surely remember the moment.
Yes, last Sunday morning, Argentina had gone to a 2-0 lead against the Socceroos in the round of 16 in the World Cup, and it was pretty much all over bar the shouting. But then with 13 minutes to go in regulation time, Craig Goodwin smashes the ball and it bounces off an Argentinian defender to bring it back to 2-1! Suddenly, Australia are half a sniff of half a chance to stay in it. It is going to take a miracle, but look, maybe we have a miracle-maker in our ranks?
For Graham Arnold has already just pulled off the bench an 18-year-old, Garang Kuol, a young man who had first come to Australia as a South Sudanese refugee, via Egypt. He’s on, up against some of the best players in the world, including Lionel Messi! But he’s clearly not overawed.
With just two minutes to go, a superbly placed ball comes to Kuol from Goodwin – yes, him again – as Argentinian defenders swarm. Kuol, who was doing his HSC not that long ago, rises to the occasion. With a swivel, a swerve and a switcheroo, he creates a tiny bit of space, a possible gap, draws his right foot back on the ball and strikes it towards the goalmouth!
Garang Kuol is denied an equaliser by Argentina keeper Emi Martinez.Credit:Getty
It will take a world-class goalkeeper to stop it.
In desperation Emiliano Martinez hurls himself into space, and the ball cannons off his outstretched left arm. The goal is saved, and so are Argentina.
Soccer-rueful: The meagre margin that cost rising star colossal moment
You tell me.
In the history of Australian sport, has there ever been a magic moment manqué quite like it? I am talking a moment just missed, a moment where the stakes were so enormous, the set-up so dramatic, the derring-do so inspirational . . . and everything positioned perfectly to provide a moment that would be talked about and gloried in for decades to come . . . only for it to just miss by a hair’s breadth.
You surely remember the moment.
Yes,........
© The Sydney Morning Herald
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