It’s V for Victoria again as hitman heads winner
Seven goals in four ties for Portugese ace
Cup heroJoao
Joao Victoria continued his love affair with the Scottish Cup to send Kilby into round three – but revealed his solitary goal fell short of expectations.
The Portuguese striker headed home from Fabio Capuano’s cross in the fifth minute for the only goal of the game as 10-man EK stunned Cowdenbeath.
Victoria scored a hat-trick against Vale of Leithen in the last round and scored three times in the competition during his first spell with Kilby in season 2014/15.
And after bagging his seventh Scottish Cup goal in four appearances, Victoria said: “Before games the manager always asks me ‘How many are you scoring today, Joao?’
“I always tell them at least two, so you could say it’s a wee bit disappointing. But the way the game went I’ll take the one this time. “It’s a lucky competition for me. “I’ve scored some important goals in the Scottish Cup. I got a hat-trick in the last round as well so I think I’ve got a good return. “I was confident going into the game that I could score and I’m delighted to get the winning goal.
“I don’t score many headers so that was special. It was a great ball in and a good header as well.
“The game was never going to be easy and it was important to get the early goal.”
Victoria has had spells in senior football at Queen’s Park and Arbroath but he always produces his best form at East Kilbride.
Saturday’s effort was his 14th goal in 14 starts for Kilby this season – but he was keen to heap praise on his team-mates for their rearguard action following Kieran Gibbons’ red card.
He said: “It was a hard game but we all worked for each other and the team effort was unbelievable.
“I felt we deserved to win. The whole team worked their socks off.”
Teams from League One and the Championship enter the competition in round three and the Kilby hitman doesn’t fear anyone.
He said: “We’ll take anyone in the next round. A senior team at home would be really good but I just want to play and whatever happens we’ll learn from the experience.”
It’s a lucky competition for me. I’ve scored some important goals in the cup.