Tim Cahill scored a trademark header and was named player-of-the-match in New York Red Bulls 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake overnight.
Tim Cahill scored a trademark header and was named player-of-the-match in New York Red Bulls 4-3 win over Real Salt Lake overnight.
In a pulsating contest, Cahill-s MLS side came from a goal down with just two minutes remaining in regulation time to clinch a dramatic win.
Fabian Espindola converting a penalty late on to equalise, before N.J. Dax McCarty scored in the fourth minute of injury time to steal all three points and help the New York side to second in a tight Eastern Conference race.
Speaking after the match Cahill was thrilled with his team-s effort and the contribution he's been able to make since joining Major League Soccer on a permanent basis this time last year.
“Overall we played some great football. It was unfortunate to concede the goals we did but we-re showing we-ve got the determination and grit to see it out.
“When you win games in the last minute with a great goal it-s a reward for hard work. I-m buzzing, the crowd were fantastic.
“It-s always great to score but it-s better when you win.”
The story could have been much different for Cahill, who recovered from a knee injury suffered early in the game, to help his team to their tenth win of the season and one point from the summit.
The Aussie international was clumsily tackled from behind in the fourth minute by Real Salt Lake midfielder Yordany Alvarez, falling awkwardly in severe pain. The Cuban received a yellow card for the clear foul, while play stopped for five minutes as Cahill received medical attention.
"It was the worst tackle of my life, 17 years of playing," Cahill said. "I just watched it again and I don't know how I got up.
“I took a nasty knock, but for me, it's all about playing. I guess the adrenalin got the best of me."
The New York No.17 had limped from the field and remained sidelined for a further four minutes before coming back on and remarkably opening the scoring just eight minutes later.
Thierry Henry picked out Cahill with a pinpoint cross, as the Aussie ghosted in at the far post to meet the ball with one of his customary leaps and head home his sixth goal of the season.
The duo will be hoping they can replicate their combination in the upcoming MLS All-Star match, the pair being New York-s only two players named in the squad to face AS Roma later this week.
It is a remarkable achievement for Cahill in his first full season of Major League Soccer, who was selected as the “Commissioner-s Pick” for the 31 July fixture.
More importantly for the Socceroos there look to be no lasting effects of the injury he sustained and Cahill is doing what he does best - scoring goals ahead of next year-s World Cup in Brazil.