Cahill’s top 5 moments with Melbourne City

The Hyundai A-League was shocked on Wednesday with news Tim Cahill was leaving Melbourne City just nine rounds into the 2017/18 Season.

While the Caltex Socceroos star played just over a season with City, he provided many memorable moments in both the Hyundai A-League and Westfield FFA Cup.

Here we look back at five of his best highlights for the club.

STUNNING GOAL ON DEBUT

All eyes were on Cahill as he turned out for his first Hyundai A-League appearance in the Melbourne Derby against Victory in Round 2 of the 2016/17 Season.

And he didn’t disappoint, scoring one of the best goals of his career.

After the ball sat up just inside Victory’s half, Cahill hit a half-volley from 40-yards out which sailed over Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas and into the top corner of the net.

The incredible strike was – unsurprisingly – named Goal of the Year for the campaign.

TRADEMARK TIMMY DELIVERS SILVERWARE

Desperate to land the club’s first major trophy, Cahill stood up in the 2016 Westfield FFA Cup final win over Sydney FC.

With scores locked at 0-0 seven minutes into the second half, Cahill did what he does best, rising at the far post to head home Ivan Franjic’s cross.

The fantastic header gave City a 1-0 and thrilled the majority of the 18,751 fans inside AAMI Park.

CAHILL AND BALLBOY STEAL THE SHOW

Cahill proved he was a good sport on his first trip to Gosford with City last season.

After scoring City’s opening goal, Cahill ran to the corner flag to embark on his trademark flag-boxing celebration.

But a quick-thinking ballboy swooped in to take the corner flag away and watched as the Caltex Socceroo went through with his normal routine anyway in an incident that went viral.

Cahill took the move in good spirit and met the ballboy after the match for a quick photo and chat.

IMPRESSIVE BRACE SINKS THE MARINERS

Cahill came to torment Central Coast again in Round 16 of last season, grabbing both goals in a 2-1 win at AAMI Park.

He gave City and early lead when Luke Brattan played a set-piece short to the front post where Cahill had peeled off his marker and fired past Paul Izzo.

While the Mariners equalised soon after, Cahill had the final say when he got on the end of another Brattan cross to head home virtually unchallenged at the back post for his first brace in the Hyundai A-League.

SCORING RETURN TO HIS HOMETOWN

A proud western Sydney boy, Cahill’s return to his old stomping ground for the first time with City against the Wanderers was always going to be a big occasion.

And in true Cahill fashion he delivered in a big moment in the clash at Spotless Stadium last season.

Capitalising on some good play by Fernando Brandan, Cahill was one hand to poke home from close range to give City the lead, only for a late own goal by Neil Kilkenny to deny the veteran a winning return to his hometown.