Joe Gauci produced another memorable performance in goal for Adelaide United, despite falling 2-1 to the Central Coast Mariners on Thursday night.
The 20-year-old pulled off a miraculous point-blank save against Sydney FC last weekend and backed that up again by saving two penalties.
It was ultimately in vain as the Mariners cancelled out Kusini Yengi’s opener after goals from Oliver Bozanic and Alou Kuol snapped Adelaide’s six-match winning streak.
“I thought it was a pretty even game,” Gauci reflected after the game to Fox Sports.
“There were moments where we dominated and there were moments where they dominated the game.
“I think overall we probably deserved to get a bit more out of it, but that’s football and we build on the next game.”
The ex-Mariners shot-stopper first thwarted Matt Simon’s rifled penalty down the middle after managing to get a foot on it.
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6245966629001
“I know Simo (Matt Simon) from my time in the Central Coast,” he said.
“I know he likes to hit it with the laces so it was just a case for me to pick a side and dive hard and I got lucky I suppose and he went down the middle.”
In his fourth A-League match, Gauci then became just the second goalkeeper in the competition to save two penalties in the same game since the 2012/13 season, when he instinctively guessed the right way to parry Bozanic’s attempt from the spot.
“I just thought a left-footer might try and open up his body,” he admitted.
“So it was just a feeling I had on the field and I lucky tonight my feeling was correct.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268479001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6245980903001
Next match details:
Saturday, 10 April vs Western Sydney Wanderers
A-League 2020/21 – Matchweek 16
Kick-off 6.40pm ACDT
Gates open 5.40pm ACDT
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Broadcast: Fox Sports
Stream: Kayo Sports, MyFootball Live App
