Adelaide United needed two goals in the final ten minutes to overcome Central Coast Mariners 2-0 on Friday night, with 15-year-old Mohamed Toure becoming the youngest goal-scorer in A-League history.
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The visitors were the better side for large parts of the match but it was the Reds who managed to find the net twice in two minutes to claim maximum points.
United coach Gertjan Verbeek hailed the impact of the teen sensation who injected plenty of pace and power as the hosts fought to keep the Mariners at bay.
"Mohamed came in and he gave the team energy," he said.
"Of course you have to be a little bit lucky to bring one in and you score almost immediately, and the second one he made (scored) himself after a few minutes."
Central Coast tactician Alen Stajcic felt his side deserved more from the match but were undone by a brilliant 82nd minute strike from George Blackwood.
"I was proud of the effort today," he said.
"I thought we controlled large periods of the game, I thought we created more chances, the better chances.
"Blackwood has half a chance, not even, puts it in the top corner and that really wins them the game."
Adelaide threatened in the opening minute when Louis D'Arrigo's goal-bound shot from the edge of the area was deflected over the bar.
Five minutes in Chris Harold thumped an effort against the Reds' crossbar from the edge of the box, leading to a dominant next 25 minutes by the Mariners.
Adelaide's next chance came on 33 minutes when Ben Halloran's cross took a wicked deflection and nearly looped in at the back post if not for an excellent diving save from Mark Birighitti.
The two sides traded blows in the second half with the Mariners bossing the majority after the break.
However United eventually broke the deadlock against the run of play on 82 minutes.
With Central Coast deep in attack, Halloran counter-attacked over halfway before supplying substitute Toure, who laid off for Riley McGree.
The attacking midfielder teed up George Blackwood who took a touch before bending a stunning right foot effort into the top corner from outside the area.
The Reds doubled their lead just two minutes later and it was the 15-year-old Toure who double the advantage in just his second A-League appearance.
McGree powered past two Mariners opponents in the midfield, before drilling the ball across the face of goal for Toure to slam home into an empty net.
Australian Associated Press
