Steven Hall had only just turned 10 months old when Mark Schwarzer’s remarkable penalty shoot-out performance against Uruguay secured the Subway Socceroos’ place in the 2006 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Fast forward two decades to a remarkable night in the annals of Australian football history – Schwarzer’s iconic save against Marcelo Zalayeta during that thrilling penalty shootout is still fresh in the memory. Hall emulated that moment, making a crucial stop to lead the Young Socceroos to victory in the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup.
On Saturday night, Australia faced Saudi Arabia and after a 1-1 deadlock over 120 minutes, they went to penalties. Hall’s crucial save against Bassam Hazazi secured a 5-4 shootout victory, marking Australia’s first U20 Asian Cup title.
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT (LEFT): SUBWAY SOCCEROOS
MATCH REPORT: The Young Socceroos etch their name in history with the first ever U20 Asian Cup crown, with A-Leagues players leading the way.
Hall, a product of Adelaide United, made his move from the Isuzu UTE A-League to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion in January 2024. Upon his return home on Monday, he was greeted like a hero.
When asked by journalists about the parallels between his penalty save and Schwarzer’s for the Socceroos back in 2005, Hall expressed his delight.
“Yeah, it feels great,” Hall remarked.
“I mean, I wasn’t even born when that happened; I was born that same year. But seeing it and hearing people draw comparisons between my save and his is such an amazing feeling.”
“When I first dived, I seemed to go past the ball as it was slightly behind me, but as soon as I connected with my glove, I knew I’d saved it. And when I got up and saw my teammates racing towards me, I was utterly speechless – it was just an incredible feeling. I was just over the moon.”
The celebration Hall shared with his teammates after clinching that shootout victory has become an unforgettable moment in the Young Socceroos’ journey at the U20 Asian Cup.
As he watched Hazazi’s penalty sail wide, Hall sprang to his feet and rushed the camera to display a message on his glove: “For you Grandad.”
Hall’s grandfather passed away while he was on duty with the Young Socceroos for the Asian Cup.
“He was with me during that shootout, he was with me during the Iraq match and he was with me in the game against Japan,” Hall shared.
“That moment and that save were entirely for him. It was a truly proud moment for me.”
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Hall was among six South Australians on the Young Socceroos’ roster, with all six featuring together in the second half during Australia’s final match against Saudi Arabia.
The Brighton keeper joins fellow South Australian Musa Toure as players who have progressed from Adelaide United to secure moves overseas. The remaining four – Panagiotis Kikianis, Jonny Yull, Fabian Talladira, and Luka Jovanovic – are all current members of the Adelaide squad ready to return to action in the Isuzu UTE A-League against Brisbane Roar this weekend.
Kikianis, alongside Hall, addressed media at Adelaide airport following their return from the Asian Cup in China. He took a moment to reflect on the achievement of the Young Socceroos in Asia and the pride he felt representing alongside five fellow South Australians.
“It’s a tremendous honour to return home as the champions of Asia,” Kikianis noted.
“I don’t think many anticipated this in Australian football, but I’m confident we all desired this medal, and we believed we had what it took. Luckily, we achieved it on Saturday night.”
“We felt immense pride representing our nation in such a significant tournament. If I recall correctly, there were six of us on the pitch at one time,” he added.
“For Australian football, that’s fantastic – particularly for South Australian football, as it showcases the incredible program we have here. I’m sure more success lies ahead.”
Kikianis, along with his three Adelaide and Young Socceroos teammates, is already shifting focus back to club duties as Adelaide prepares for a match against Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
“We’re all keen to get back to business,” he stated. “Brisbane is coming up on Saturday. Hopefully, we can turn things around after a few disappointing results over the past month. It’s time to start winning again.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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