Al Hassan Toure’s meteoric rise has been nothing shy of sensational since bursting onto the scene at the beginning of the FFA Cup 2019.
FFA Cup Final coverage:
- Reds defend FFA Cup title after thumping City 4-0
- Verbeek praises rampant second-half display after City rout
- Adelaide United v Melbourne City | Mini-Match Highlights | FFA Cup Final
- Al Hassan Toure and Gertjan Verbeek | Post-Match Press Conference | FFA Cup Final 2019
The 19-year-old prodigy had scored four goals in as many cup matches before the Final on Wednesday night at Coopers Stadium.
So it was rather fitting that the revelation of this year’s instalment of the FFA Cup played an instrumental role in securing Adelaide United’s third title.
Toure opened the scoring in the Reds’ emphatic 4-0 hiding of Melbourne City in the FFA Cup Final 2019.
He described the feeling of winning the decider and collecting the Mark Viduka Medal for best on ground as “unbelievable”.
“It’s unbelievable that last year I was watching on TV and now I’m part of the team and scoring alongside some of the best players in Australia it’s unreal,” he told reporters at a press conference.
Toure caught City goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis out at his near post to bag his fifth goal of the tournament and the Guinean-born forward said it was his intention to shoot after something he noticed from their league meeting four days earlier.
“In the previous game I saw that he (Dean Bouzanis) was creeping off his line when (Michaël) Maria had a shot,” the former Croydon Kings product said when asked if he was meaning to cross or shoot the ball.
“And then I was thinking when I get that chance I’ll go near post and fortunately it worked.”
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Toure helped orchestrate the second goal, demonstrating his exceptional hold up play, fending off City centre-back Harrison Delbridge before turning and spreading a through ball for Riley McGree, who squared to Ben Halloran.
The striker credited working with the Club’s Strength and Condition Coach, Django Gentilcore, for improving his robustness.
“We do a lot of gym here,” he explained.
“It’s different to what I’ve experienced before, the gym with Django (Gentilcore), it’s helped with my strength, power and it’s good that I’m using it in games.”
The enormity of the situation manifested itself as the youngster was reduced to tears as the players were returning back to the halfway line after celebrating that second goal from Halloran.
It was just raw emotion and something that will be synonymous with the sixth iteration of the Cup Final.
“After the second goal I felt that I’m a big part of the win and I’m just emotional,” he said.
Adelaide United face Newcastle Jets in Round 3 of the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 season on Saturday, 26 October at McDonald Jones Stadium. Kick-off is at 4.30pm ACDT. Live and Exclusive on Fox Sports, ABC, Kayo Sports and the My Football Live App.
