NERANG’S ROCKET
NERANG Eagles’ Shaun Robinson has written himself into the national record books after setting a new benchmark for the fastest goal in an FFA Cup fixture.
Robinson’s opener, just 11.2 seconds from kick-off, eclipsed the previous mark of 26 seconds set by Heidelberg United’s Dan Heffernan in the 2015 national knockout football competition.
It was an ominous warning of what was to come for visitor Bribie Island FC, which was outclassed by its Gold Coast Premier League hosts 11-nil on Saturday.
But it was the opening goal which captured all the attention – Robinson turning in a simple strike from the middle of the 18-yard box after a ruthless Nerang press from the opening kick-off dispossessed the Bribie defence.
“They went backwards, we pinched the ball and broke through,” Robinson said.
“It (the 11-second goal) will definitely be hard to beat but at the end of the day I just tapped it in – it was the pressing from all the other lads that got us in that position to be able to do that.
“I just got on the end of it. That’s my job, so I just did my job and we got lucky.”
The win and record-setting goal from Robinson left Nerang coach Lee Vernon feeling confident of another quality performance ahead of the Eagles’ next FFA Cup clash this
Sunday against newly minted FQPL2 outfit Taringa Rovers.
“I’m optimistic about some of the new players we’ve brought in and some of the players who are back from injury from last season,” Vernon said.
“They’re like new signings now so there’s a lot of positives to look at for Nerang.”
Southport, Surfers Paradise and Palm Beach also banked convincing FFA Cup wins to advance to the next stage.
AUSTRALIA loves an underdog, and so does the Australian Open.
The 2021 edition features bolters Hsieh Su-Wei and Jessica Pegula, and men’s grand slam debutant Aslan Karatsev.
In 1976, Australian Mark Edmondson became the first unseeded player of the Open era to win a grand slam when he upset John Newcombe.
Two years later, fellow Chris O’Neil achieved the same feat — and she remains our last Australian victor here.
Hsieh, at 35, is the oldest female to make her grand slam quarter-final debut in the professional era.
Pegula, ranked 61, boasts the best financial backing of any tennis player on the planet — her parents outbid Donald Trump to purchase NFL franchise Buffalo Bills.
And Karatsev is perhaps the most remarkable, having gone through qualifying in Doha in January to reach his first grand slam main draw.