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Posted: 2022-02-20 22:01:33

Ben Garuccio could have a date set with the Puskas Award but the modest Western United full-back doesn't plan on revisiting his incredible scorpion-kick goal too many times.

Garuccio stole the show in Sunday's 3-2 A-League Men win over Western Sydney when he threw himself forward to meet Aleksandar Prijovic's outside-of-the-boot chip, flinging his leg behind him, then flicking the ball over his body into the bottom corner.

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"It was unbelievable, to be honest," Garuccio, who scored two goals at AAMI Park on the night, told reporters.

"It was spur of the moment. (Prijovic) got it and I saw a little gap and I just ran and he played a top ball and I just stuck my leg up basically and I thought, 'if I can get any sort of connection on this it will be alright'.

"It actually hit my heel nice and flush and I was like 'that's a good connection' but I couldn't see it and I looked up and it was in the net. The rest is history, I suppose.

"It just felt like I got a good connection on it because I did one in training a couple of weeks ago and I face-planted horribly and everyone laughed at me."

Much like Riley McGree's long-range scorpion kick for Newcastle against Melbourne City in 2018, which was nominated for the Puskas Award, Garuccio's 68th-minute goal immediately went viral.

"I didn't know if he did a bicycle kick or what until I saw it back on the screen. I just couldn't believe it," United coach and Socceroos great John Aloisi said.

Garuccio played down expectations of joining his former Adelaide United teammate McGree as a global award nominee.

"I don't really think about that stuff too much," he said.

"Obviously, it's a nice feeling. It's an unbelievable goal. It's probably the best I'll ever score in my career. So, of course, I'll enjoy it.

A man in soccer clothes screams in celebration
Ben Garuccio celebrates after scoring with a scorpion kick on the A-League men's competition.(Getty Images: Jonathan DiMaggio)

"Riley McGree's was unbelievable. It was right-footed as well. He's a left-footer and he did it with his right foot and it was outside the box. I still enjoyed it, I'll take it.

"I haven't really looked (at my phone) too much. I just checked my family's messages and stuff like that and, yeah, there's a lot of stuff on Twitter and Instagram and that.

"I'll get around to that and enjoy it for the moment and then move on to another game Wednesday."

AAP

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