Oriol Riera has ensured instant hero status with the Western Sydney Wanderers faithful after his late, late goal in Tuesday night’s Westfield FFA Cup victory over a plucky Wellington.
The Spanish marquee nodded home a last-gasp winner to give his side a 1-0 extra-time victory over Wellington Phoenix in the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32 last night.
“I’m very happy to start with a goal in my first game,” Riera told Fox Sports afterwards.
“I scored in the last friendly game, so it’s a very good start.
“ But I want to score more goals and win more games,” he said.
With the tie seemingly headed for a penalty shoot-out after 120 goal-less minutes, Riera rose highest to guide home Roly Bonevacia’s left-wing corner and send Western Sydney into the last 16.
And Riera says they always had faith a goal would come.
“We hoped, we hoped!”
“It’s a long pre-season, so we have time to [get] fit and improve a lot of things.
“It’s only the first game, but we need more,” said Riera.
