In a weekend that delivered three delightful A-League derbies, the debut of a promising 15-year-old, first A-League goals and a 50th appearance for a Victory striker in trying circumstances highlighted another week of player milestones for Australian footballers.
He may have made only a fleeting appearance as a late second-half substitute, but Adelaide United’s 15-year-old debutant Mohamed Toure became the competition’s third youngest ever player on Saturday night.
And despite featuring for a short period, Toure’s eight-minute cameo off the bench turned heads – and drew comparisons to 19-year-old older brother Al Hassan, who has already dominated headlines this season for his performances for United and Australia’s under-23s.
With Al Hassan sidelined through injury, Mohamed represented his family name with similar vigour his brother has demonstrated for club and country, showing speed, skill and power to make an immediate impact.
Toure’s teammate on the night and fellow substitute Ryan Kitto, who came on for Ryan Strain at the 45-minute mark, made his 100th appearance in the A-League, having now played five seasons with United, and one with Newcastle Jets.
On the opposing side on Saturday night, Brisbane Roar’s 2-1 win over the Reds presented 20-year-old Mirza Muratovic and 29-year-old Scottish captain Tom Aldred their first competition goals.
Muratovic has graduated to the senior side from Roar’s Y-League ranks, having previously scored 13 times in 21 games in three seasons at youth level, while Aldred, who joined Robbie Fowler’s team this season, netted his first goal in his 15th appearance in the A-League.
There was also a first A-League goal for defender Ruon Tongyik for the Mariners in their 4-3 loss against the resurgent Newcastle Jets, while Chris Harold scored a superb curling effort into the top corner on this Mariners debut.
On the opposing side Dimi Petratos netted a brace for the Jets – the first time the forward has scored more than one goal since his hat-trick in December 2013 for Sydney FC.
Perth Glory’s Nick D’Agostino netted his first A-League brace in a 4-2 win in the ‘Distance Derby’ between Perth and Wellington, with the 21-year-old Olyroo attacker having now scored three times in three matches for the Western Australian side since his switch from Brisbane.
On Friday night, Robbie Kruse made his 50th appearance for Melbourne Victory but sadly it was an occasion to forget as the striker succumbed to a hamstring injury during the 2-1 loss to rivals Melbourne City. Before returning to Melbourne from German side Bochum last year, Kruse had played 39 matches for Victory between 2009-2011.
