Massimo Luongo: The new Cahill?

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Massimo Luongo

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Luongo capped an extraordinary tournament by scoring a cracking opening goal which sent the Socceroos on their way to a gripping 2-1 extra-time victory at a packed Stadium Australia.

The 22-year-old Sydneysider was also crowned Player of the Tournament for his strong of brilliant displays, which included two man-of-the-match awards.

“I didn’t really have any expectations on myself (heading into the tournament) but to get as much as I’ve got…I’m so thankful for what’s gone on this tournament,” Luongo said.

“Almost 80,000 fans the atmosphere was unbelievable and for me to be a part of the silverware was special.

“To get a goal as well was like a dream.”

It was some strike too.

Luongo received the ball in traffic 30-metres from goal, turning in one movement thanks to a silky first touch before unleashing a thunderous shot into the bottom corner of the net.

“I was just hovering in the pocket and Trent (Sainsbury) gave me a nice ball,” he explained of his goal.

“My first touch opened up straight away and it looked like I was running at the centre backs but all I had in my mind was too shot and I got it sweetly.

“It was a great strike and such a good feeling when it hit the back of the net.”

Luongo’s wonderful performances in the tournament has attracted the attention of club’s around Europe, with his League One club Swindon Town receiving some attractive offers for the key midfielder.

Asked about his club future, Luongo said: “I’m not worried about that side.

“If I keep performing well at any level all that will take care of itself. Right now I’m enjoying all this and in four days’ time I’ll be back at Swindon and I’ll focus on that.”

For long periods of the match Luongo’s goal – right on the stroke of half-time – looked like it would be enough to give the Socceroos victory before Son Hueng Min equalised in the second minute of injury time.

It would have been easy for the team to have dropped their heads in extra-time but that wasn’t the case, with James Troisi on hand to score the winner in the 105th minute.

“We have a massive belief in what we’re trying to do and how we wanted to play,” Mark Milligan said.

“The first few minutes of extra time we were very confident in our fitness levels and believed we could run over them.

“That first five minutes (of extra time) we refocused and really got at them and it proved to us we were going to get the win.

“We’re supremely fit, we’ve been working so hard and preparing for months for this, we knew if it went to extra time we’d grind it out and run them down.”

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