Calem Nieuwenhof scores a goal on debut for Sydney FC.Credit:Fox Sports
Saturday's 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix was his A-League debut,but again,you wouldn't have known it,so smooth and faultless was the 19-year-old's midfield play. His teammates call him"Sleepy",because he's so laconic and relaxed it seems as if he's only half-awake. But there's no sleeping on this kid.
If you didn't notice his subtle work on and off the ball,you definitely would have noticed his 29th-minute blockbuster,which was surely one of the best goals ever scored by a debutant anywhere in the world.
Nieuwenhof,who is a product of Sydney's northern beaches,found himself with time and space about five metres out from the edge of the Phoenix penalty area at WIN Stadium in Wollongong. No Phoenix player seemed to be in a rush to close him down,so he took a touch,moved forward and unleashed.
From the moment it left his boot,the ball looked destined for the top corner. It floated beautifully in the air past a helpless Stefan Marinovic,the New Zealand international goalkeeper,and rifled into the back of the net.
Luke Brattan's free kick goal also shouldn't be sniffed at.Credit:Fox Sports
And so a star was born. This A-League season was always going to be about the emergence of a new generation of young players,but it's worth getting out to see Nieuwenhof while you still can,because he seems bound for bigger and better things very soon.
"He's putting his hand up to play every week and he's doing a great job at the moment. We want him to keep improving,"coach Steve Corica said.