Moreton Bay United PlayStation® 4 NPL Queensland Grand Final hero Jordan Farina has told how his match-winning free-kick was a spur of the moment decision.
With scores level at a goal apiece in the final minutes of the end-of-season decider against Brisbane Strikers, Farina edged the Jets ahead for the second time with a stunning free-kick to ultimately seal the title last weekend.
The goal was the 23-year-old’s eighth of the season but he was in no doubt that it was the most meaningful in a season full of highlights.
“It’s what everyone dreams about when you come into a Grand Final - to score the match winner,” Farina said.
Following their Grand Final triumph the season continues for Jets this weekend in the knock-out PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series.
They face PlayStation 4 NPL Northern New South Wales Premiers Edgeworth FC.
The winner of game 1 will play winner of game 2. And the winner of game 3 will play winner of game 4.
This means if Moreton Bay triumph this weekend, they will face either Blacktown City or Canberra FC.
Preview: PS4 NPL 2015 Elimination Finals
Despite proving a threat from similar areas earlier in the season, Farina said a moment of doubt had actually resulted in a fortuitous change of approach as he lined up the set-piece.
“I changed my mind as I was running up. I actually tried to go over the wall but for some reason I changed my mind in that split second,” he conceded.
“I wasn’t confident in getting the ball up and over from that range but thankfully we had three or four boys running across that put the keeper off.”
“I think that’s the whole idea when you’re trying to put balls like that into the box. If it goes on target it might go in or someone might get a touch.”
Farina entered the match as a substitute only ten minutes prior to his match-winning turn, however he said it was the toil of the teammates in the hard fought Grand Final that deserved as much credit as him.
“The boys that were playing on the wing before me they worked extremely hard and the reason we got the free kick was because our wingers were especially getting at the fullbacks,” he explained.
Farina joined the Jets in 2014 under previous head coach Terry Kirkham after previously playing with Brisbane Roar Youth, Gold Coast United Youth and Central Coast Mariners Youth.
He said the ever strengthening culture within the club was a major factor in Jets winning the Premiership-Championship double this year.
“It’s my second year and winning two trophies this year, nothing beats that,” he enthused.
“The people around the club including the committee and the fans and, most importantly, the boys - it’s a really tight knit group.”
“We’re all about the same age, except for Royce Brownlie, and we all really get along and [coach] Adam [Piddick] has brought us together really well and it showed on the park this year,” Farina added.