Mathew Leckie has hit form right in time for the Socceroos’ friendlies next month, starring as his German side surged to their first win of the Bundesliga 2 season on Sunday night.
Making his first start since his return from an abdominal injury, Leckie scored the first goal then set up his side’s second as Ingolstadt 04 won 2-0 win over local rivals SpVgg Greuther Fürth.
His goal displayed everything that made Leckie one of the Socceroos’ most potent attacking players at the recent World Cup.
The 23-year-old showed his pace and power, producing a superb solo run before a clinical to give his side the lead just after the hour mark.
Leckie then did all the hard work before laying off to Pascal Groß who hit a rasping low drive to seal the result eight minutes from time.
Leckie was last week named in the Socceroos’ 20-man squad for friendlies against Belgium and Saudi Arabia in early September.
And he’s not the only one in form, with Tommy Oar producing a man-of-the-match effort in FC Utrecht’s 2-1 away win over Luke Wilkshire’s Feyenoord overnight.
After his side went behind in the first half, Oar provided the assists for both of Utrecht’s goals as they pulled off a massive upset at the De Kuip Stadium.
Oar overpowered Ruben Schaken down the left wing before laying the ball off perfectly Nacer Barazite to equalize.
The Socceroo winger then showed all his speed and class for the second, picking up the ball in his own half, running 40 metres at a retreating defence before threading a superb through-ball for eighteen year old substitute Rodney Antwi to finish.
Elsewhere, Socceroos defender Trent Sainsbury came on in the last 10-minutes as his PEC Zwolle side scored late to win 2-1 against Vitesse Arnhem.
Mat Ryan’s Club Brugge had a disappointing night, toppled 3-1 by KV Mechelen while James Holland played a full match for Austria Vienna in their 2-2 derby draw against Rapid Vienna.