Adelaide hero Halloran eyes double delight

Adelaide United’s Elimination Final hero Ben Halloran says his last-gasp match-winner against Melbourne City on Sunday evening was the best moment of his football career. Now he has his eyes on a dramatic double. 

Halloran latched onto a perceptive pass from Baba Diawara in the last minute of extra-time at Coopers Stadium to side-foot the ball home and settle the tense tie, earning the Reds a Semi-Final trip to Perth Glory on Friday.

SOCIAL REACTS: Who is saying what about the Elimination Finals? 
REPORT: Halloran strikes late as Reds sink City in extra-time
READ: Izzo thrilled to deliver for Adelaide United

The 26-year-old attacking midfielder, who represented Australia in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and has played senior football in Germany and Japan, was calmness personified with his finish, but admitted: “It was a pretty dramatic way to end an Elimination Final.   

“Baba did really well and laid the ball off perfectly, it was just fortunate to sneak it in at that near post.

“I typically try and go for a side-foot finish. In the dying moments a lot of players might snatch at it and try and blast it, but I felt like I connected well.”

Asked if the goal represented his greatest footballing moment, Halloran added: “I think so. I’ve never really scored a late winner like that. In a packed Coopers. It was just so dramatic.

[The feeling] was just pure elation. I’ve never done a slide celebration before, so I didn’t really know how to go for it. I just slid into the corner and got suffocated for a couple of minutes.”

Halloran joined Adelaide in August 2018 keen to add to his playing resumé after his career had stagnated in Japan with V-Varen Nagasaki.

With an FFA Cup victory already under his belt with Adelaide this season, the former Gold Coast United and Brisbane Roar player is keen to add more silverware to his sideboard.

“I came here wanting to get more game time, and to win trophies as well,” he said. “I’ve never won much at a professional level.

The FFA Cup was my first major honour, so if we can get the double that would be an unreal thing.

“The goal was at the start of the season to win the league. Perth is undoubtedly the strongest team in the competition, but going in as underdogs we can use that – all the pressure is on them.”