HE may not hold the favour of national coach Pim Verbeek, but Bathurst soccer product Archie Thompson proved on Sunday night that he is a man who can rise to the occasion and find the back of the net when it matters most.
A member of Melbourne Victory’s A-League side, Thompson has only gained sporadic selection for the Socceroos in recent times for lesser matches and with other strikers seemingly favoured by Verbeek in Australia’s big games, he looks at best an outside chance of taking part in this year’s World Cup.
When Thompson broke a bone in his foot a month ago it severely hurt his chances of World Cup selection but, like any striker, when given the chance to grab the spotlight he is more than happy to take it regardless of the circumstances.
The former Bathurst ’75 player knows he must impress any chance he gets to be a hope of earning a place on the plane to South Africa and he did that on Sunday as Melbourne booked a place in the A-League grand final.
Thompson had sat out the first leg of the major semi-final against Sydney FC which Victory won 2-1 and last week leading up to the second leg he was only an outside chance of playing.
He had only just taken off a medical moon boot and had his first training run in six weeks just four days out from the crunch match.
On Sunday night he started on the bench, but when injected into the game by his coach Ernie Merrick, Thompson produced. His goal in the 113th minute locked the game at 2-all, handing Melbourne a 4-3 win on aggregate and the first place in the A-League grand final.
“I was only expecting to play 30 minutes, but we managed to get to extra-time,” the former Bathurst Sportsperson of the Year told ABC Radio.
“We should have killed it off early with a few one-on-ones.
“But it was a great game to make it to a grand final and I wish luck to Sydney because I think they deserve to play in a grand final also. They played well tonight and there had to be a loser in these games, as they say.
“But I’m just delighted I came back and scored the winner and we’re in the grand final.”
Victory striker Robbie Kruse, also back from injury, struck the first blow at the Sydney Football Stadium as his curling 25-metre strike in the 15th minute moved Melbourne closer to their third A-League decider.
A Karol Kisel penalty gave Sydney hope and when his team-mate Mark Bridge scored on his return from a toe problem in front of 23,818 fans, it sent the game into extra-time.
Thompson had replaced Kruse in the 65th minute and was looking dangerous, having one shot superbly saved by Sydney custodian Clint Bolton. He finally found the goal he had been looking for following a quickly-taken Kevin Muscat free kick that perhaps should not have been awarded.
Referee Stebre Delovski penalised Sydney’s Terry McFlynn for handball just outside the box, but replays showed the ball came off the midfielder’s head.
Muscat quickly took the ensuing free kick and played it into Thompson’s path to slot home, leaving Sydney players frustrated on several accounts.
However, for Thompson it was cause to celebrate as he scored in a grand final qualifier for the second year running.
The striker may get another chance to impress Verbeek in tonight’s Asian Champions League match against Seongnam Ilhwa in Melbourne, but if not the grand final awaits.
Victory will face either Sydney FC or Wellington Phoenix.
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