Super-sub Joey Di Iorio says it was "a big adrenalin rush" to score the winning goal which fired Australia into a junior World Cup soccer semi-final for the first time.
The Australian Joeys beat Qatar, 1-0, in yesterday's quarter-final at QEII Stadium, and fittingly, it was a fair dinkum Joey who scored from a superb second-half volley.
Di Iorio hit the back of the net after 55 minutes with a first-time shot from the edge of the area after Qatar could not clear a corner. The German-based striker - who came on after half time - described it as the most important goal of his career.
"It was just great ... a big adrenalin rush. I knew I wouldn't be fit for 90 minutes, but I wanted to get on there and put some pressure on them at the back and hopefully get a few shots on goal."
Di Iorio made no mistake from the best chance he got. He was mobbed by his Australian comrades and received an accidental war wound as a mark of a memorable moment.
"One of my team-mates grabbed me and must have scratched me (under the eye)," said Di Iorio, who was "too hyperactive" to feel any pain.
Australian coach Les Scheinflug produced a tactical master-stroke when he opted to rest Di Iorio for the first half.
"He was ready to play from the beginning, but I wanted to save him for the second half when the other team was getting tired, because he's a tremendous finisher," Scheinflug said.
Di Iorio's skill and acceleration had Qatar on red alert and he went close to creating other goals.
Australia deserved victory in its fifth quarter-final appearance at a world under-17 championships. The Joeys dominated three-quarters of the match before a disappointing crowd of 3500 in cold, windy conditions.
Qatar had some good individuals, notably left-back Meshal, midfielder Bilal, and strikers Seydna Ali and Waleed. But it must be easier to rob Fort Knox than crack the Australian defence.
Skipper Mark Byrnes was again outstanding for Australia, and there was a gasp of disbelief when sweeper Adam Madaschi made his first error of the tournament, allowing Qatar a half-chance.
The Qatar goalkeeper-captain Salman Al Ansari blocked a shot by striker Scott McDonald after a great run from Di Iorio, and Louis Brain took one touch too many as he lined up a late chance to make it 2-0.
Scheinflug hailed the "Aussie spirit" which had earned the Joeys a semi-final berth and attributed his team's improvement to its pre-tournament tour of South America. "They became big mates over there and now everyone's fighting for everybody, just like the Kiwis did in their last game against Poland.
"It's that Oceania spirit."