By Anna Harrington, AAP
Super striker Noah Botic is the talk of the A-League Men after his exceptional hat-trick delivered Western United a 3-2 elimination win over Adelaide United and a semi-final clash with Melbourne City.
But United will hope their main man has avoided injury after he felt a concern with his quad late in the pulsating win on Friday.
John Aloisi’s charges will meet City in back-to-back legs at AAMI Park, starting next Friday, after Botic starred – in what proved departing Adelaide coach Carl Veart’s final game – before 3078 fans at Ironbark Fields.
“Pleased for him, but also we know that in these finals games you need someone that can stand up and do something like that – and Noah Botic was that person tonight,” Aloisi said.
“He was great. Not just scoring goals – because we know that as a goalscorer or a striker that’s what you want to do and have to do – but his all-round performance.
“These are the games that people end up talking about because it’s finals.
“When you’re a striker and you’re pushing to go to another level, this is when you have to do it.”
It was third-placed United’s first men’s final at their Tarneit base, and they won’t play there again this season.
Reds striker Luka Jovanovic, deputising for injured golden boot winner Archie Goodwin, headed Adelaide in front in the third minute.
But Botic’s deflected strike in the 20th minute put Western level, then he delivered the lead 11 minutes later.
On his finals debut, Socceroos aspirant Botic sealed his first senior hat-trick with a wonderful finish in the 63rd minute, with Tony Popovic’s assistant Hayden Foxe among those watching on.
The 23-year-old is just the third United ALM player to score a hat-trick, and the youngest of five finals hat-trick scorers in league history.
“My mum’s down here for this game,” Botic said.
“Throughout the whole day. I was just … feeling confident today [Friday]. I’m just ‘something’s kind of just feeling right’ and stuff like that.
“You don’t feel like it necessarily once you’re on the pitch normally, but then once the first goal went in, and then the second one, it’s ‘okay, there’s a bit of a roll going here’.”
Botic was icing up post-game and is cautiously optimistic about his fitness.
“Just did a couple tests. It’s just a little bit of awareness in my quad,” he said.
“But we’ll kind of test it out throughout the week and see how it goes. And I’m sure everything will be alright.”
The hosts’ night was soured by an injury to veteran centre-back James Donachie, who suffered an adductor strain and was immediately substituted for Tate Russell in the 13th minute.
