Best FFA Cup Final performances: where does Goodwin's colossal display rank?

Even Craig Goodwin himself admitted he was lost for words.

The Adelaide-born flyer left Coopers Stadium awestruck last night, striking an incredible double to topple Sydney FC 2-1 in the FFA Cup Final 2018.

It is a match-winning performance that will no doubt go down in FFA Cup folklore, crowned by a pair of goals worthy of clinching any game.

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The talisman Adelaide have lacked?

Adelaide have perhaps fallen a few goals short in their recent Hyundai A-League quests.

Not since their double-winning campaign of 2015/16 have the Reds boasted a player who has reached double figures in a single season, when Bruce Djite notched 11.

Goodwin was predominantly employed from left fullback during that memorable campaign under Guillermo Amor.

But after leading the Reds’ charge to a second FFA Cup triumph, there’s no doubt Goodwin has emerged as the leading candidate to spearhead the club’s Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season ambitions.

The defensive excellence of Marco Kurz’s side will only bolster their credentials even more. Kurz’s side appear one of the steeliest defensive units in the country at the moment, having shackled Sydney FC with expertise in their Round 1 Hyundai A-League clash and emerged victors in a true knife-fight with the Sky Blues yesterday evening.

The organisation, bite and structure that the German has authorised throughout his line-up is impressive, and Goodwin stands out as the flash of brilliance that could spark a memorable Hyundai A-League campaign.

Show-stealing FFA Cup Final performances: where does Goodwin’s rank?

Goodwin’s heroics at Coopers Stadium will head straight to the top-shelf of Cup Final performances.

He’s just the first Australian player to claim the MARK VIDUKA Medal – after Sergio Cirio, Kosta Barbarouses, Bruno Fornaroli and Adrian Mierzejewski.

Let's take a look back at who else has stolen the show in the big dance.

2014: Carrusca and Cirio see off Perth Glory

It was a magical combination between Adelaide’s clinical Spaniard and their twinkle-toed Argentine that provided the crucial spark in claiming the inaugural FFA Cup Trophy.

Marcelo Carrusca and Sergio Cirio were the Reds’ two standout players on that night in 2014, cutting open the Perth Glory defence with craft and combining for the first ever FFA Cup Final goal.

Carrusca slid the ball through to Cirio, who skipped past Danny Vukovic and slotted away the winner.

Cirio

2015: Barbarouses runs rampant for Victory

Kevin Muscat’s side proved too hot for Perth Glory to handle in 2015, and that was in part thanks to the blistering pace and intent of their flying Kiwi.

Kosta Barbarouses was near unstoppable from the opening whistle and the Glory defence simply struggled to get near him and Victory all night.

Barbarouses

2016: Cahill’s header hands City first silverware

Tim Cahill’s ability to produce big goals in big games has been one of the hallmarks of his brilliant career.

And that sense of the occasion was on full display for Melbourne City in the FFA Cup 2016 Final against Sydney FC.

A fiercely contested affair threatened to boil over on several occasions, but it was the ice-cool Cahill who fired in a vintage header to separate the two sides.

Tim Cahill 2016

2017: Mierzejewski shines as Sydney FC edge Adelaide in extra time

It was only fitting that last year’s thrilling Final featured a man of the match display from Sydney FC’s former Polish star Adrian Mierzejewski.

Mierzejewski pulled the strings all night for Sydney, who opened the scoring through Milos Ninkovic and drew a string of excellent stops from Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo throughout the contest.

The Final was sent into extra time by Nikola Mileusnic’s brilliant curler, but Mierzejewski’s deep set-piece found Bobo with ten minutes remaining, and the Brazilian striker duly converted.

Adrian Mierzejewski