Has Riley McGree scored the A-League's greatest-ever goal?
The Newcastle Jets forward netted a stupendous effort to equalise for his team in the A-League semi-finals against Melbourne City, as the league's fairy-tale team turned it around to progress with a 2-1 victory.
The scorpion-kick goal — recently made famous by the likes of Olivier Giroud and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the English Premier League — involves a player clipping the ball with an outstretched leg from behind their body, with the leg making the shape of a scorpion's tail.
And now the A-League has a goal to go on a global highlights reel — and could even be a chance of a FIFA Puskas Award, if luck is on the South Australian's side.
Giroud won FIFA's goal of the year award for his incredible finish for Arsenal against Crystal Palace in January, 2017 — and the finish with McGree does share similarities.
Newcastle looked out of ideas in the first half against City, trailing to a Nikolai Topor-Stanley own goal in the 14th minute as the centre-back accidentally bundled in Bruno Fornaroli's effort on goal.
But inspiration struck like lightning as 19-year-old McGree, on loan from Belgium's Club Brugge, levelled the match to the relief of the home crowd, seeking a first A-League grand final appearance since their victorious 2008 outing.
"I think I did get a bit lucky but I had the momentum going forward. I'm pretty happy," McGree told Fox Sports.
"Definitely a bit of a fluke I think, but you've got to try it to get it."
Jets boss Ernie Merrick looked practically unmoved, watching on as the Newcastle faithful celebrated deliriously.
"He doesn't show emotion at all. Even for goals like that," McGree said.
The turnaround was completed in fairy-tale fashion as Newcastle favourite Jason Hoffman, whose last appearance in the A-League finals was all the way back in the 2008-title-winning run.
Hoffman pounced on a terrible touch by City centre-back Malik, lashing the ball home from close-range on 75 minutes.
The Jets will face either Melbourne Victory or defending champion Sydney FC in next week's decider.
