With just seconds remaining on the clock, Richmond seem destined to remain without a point in the top flight of NPL so far this season, with the 10-man Oakleigh Cannons seemingly holding firm to their 2-1 lead.
Up steps Richmond attacker Alex Caniglia to destroy that script in stunning fashion, unleashing from an acute angle on the edge of the area to curl the ball with the inside of his foot into the back of the net. The world class strike prompts jubilant scenes from the visitors, who hope their first point of the season can kick-start their campaign after two heavy defeats saw many doubt their ability to compete at the higher level.
Just over 24 hours later, Caniglia’s goal is replicated on the other side of the world at White Hart Lane as Harry Kane gives Tottenham Hotspur the lead over their North London rivals Arsenal – a measure of the goal’s quality when it’s reproduced in the world’s most competitive league.
Prior to that goal, Richmond were staring down the barrel of three straight defeats, with their first two outings away to Hume City and the Bentleigh Greens seeing them lose 3-0 and 6-1 respectively.
The winger is hopeful that last week’s result will lead to improved performances and more points on the board.
“Richmond’s start to the season hasn’t been optimal with two losses and nine goals conceded in two games, but in saying that both Hume and Bentleigh are amazing teams and I personally think they will both finish in the top four,” Caniglia says.
“Getting a point against Oakleigh was big for us because it started our season off and as a team we battled hard for the point.
“My start to the season has been okay but not as I had hoped – only scoring one goal in three games isn’t what I had personally hoped for, but I am confident that if we keep working as a team, I will be able to put a few more goals away.”
The two opening defeats raised many question about the squad’s ability to make the transition from NPL2, and the 24-year-old can definitely see the difference in quality already, although he believes that his previous experience has him well-placed to succeed at the top level.
“The quality of the NPL is much greater than NPL2 as the individual players are outstanding with good football backgrounds and you can understand why,” he says.
“In terms of quality, the NPL here in Victoria is similar to its Western Australian counterparts, where I previously played for Balcatta prior to the move to Melbourne, and through that experience have an understanding of what it takes to play at this level.”
Caniglia moved to Victoria mid-way through last season and immediately played a pivotal role in Richmond’s promotion push by scoring six goals in 11 games, as Rick Mensink’s side returned to the top tier following a two year absence.
The former Perth Glory youth team player is comfortable with his new surroundings at Kevin Bartlett Reserve, and spoke of the welcome he initially received from his new teammates and coaching staff after his move to the Victorian capital from Perth.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here last season, which is the reason I decided to make the move back again this year to play for the club,” Caniglia says.
“They have helped me out immensely and looked after me on a personal and professional level.
“Richmond is a club that makes all players feel welcome no matter who they are, with Rick Mensink working hard to source players from all over the world and bring them together to strengthen the team.”
That world recruitment drive has seen the club sign former Dutch youth representative Geert-Arend Roorda, one-time Kiwi international Liam Higgins, and homegrown foreign-based defenders Bryan Bran and Kris Kioussis – among others.
Overall, Caniglia believes the current crop is better than the squad of last season, but thinks it will take time for the squad to gel together before the side’s best football comes to life.
“I believe that we have a stronger squad than last year but it’s still taking us some time to integrate the new faces with the rest of the squad – but once that process is complete, our best form will follow,” he says.
Back home in Western Australian, the attacking winger established himself as one of the state’s most exciting creative outlets following spells at top flight outfits Bayswater City, Inglewood United and Balcatta.
However, the prospect of playing at a higher level with the possibility of greater exposure and the ability to improve his overall game led Caniglia to head east in May of last year.
“During my time in Perth, I had always wanted to try and make more of myself as a footballer, so I decided to make the move to Victoria as I heard the Victorian NPL is the best league below the A-league,” he says.
“Because Perth is isolated, there is little exposure, so the move to Victoria was made in the interest of getting better exposure as a footballer.”
In addition to his stints with top flight Western Australian clubs, Caniglia was part of the Perth Glory youth set-up earlier in the decade and featured in two friendlies for the senior side against Scottish giants Celtic and the WA State team in 2011.
Despite not being offered a first-team contract, Caniglia holds fond memories of his time with the two-time NSL champions.
“When I was 20 I was a part of the Perth Glory youth team for a season. During this time I learnt more than I could ever imagine about professional football and what is required to make it to the level, playing in an international friendly against Celtic, which made me really appreciate how much work and effort is required to be a professional player,” he says.
At the time, Caniglia was part of a promising cohort of Western Australian talent coming through the Glory youth ranks – many of whom have found permanent homes at rival A-League clubs.
“In that period I met endless amounts of talented players who have gone on to bigger and better things, such as Jack Clisby, Storm Roux, Scott Galloway, Riley Woodcock, Lewis Italiano and Brandon O’Neill – who all play in the A-League now and all of these players deserve to be where they are today and were a joy to play with,” he says.
The exodus of the state’s best talent to other A-League clubs has led many to recently question the Glory’s willingness to promote the best local talent in Perth, although Caniglia is more complimentary of the opportunities provided to Western Australia’s best young talents in the professional sphere.
“Due to the amount of talent that has come through in the state, it is impossible for one team to utilise every individual that comes through,” he says.
“For some players, the best move is to move to other states to ensure greater game time as well as bettering themselves as players.
“Perth Glory has always used players from their youth team to strengthen their squad in training and on game day, and I believe it will continue to be that way despite what others may think.”
With Caniglia set to celebrate his 25th birthday in late May, the former Balcatta attacker believes he is starting to hit the prime of his career and still harbours professional aspirations following his short taste of the big time with the Glory.
“I think most players that are playing at this level have the aspiration of making more of themselves as footballers. Part of the reason I made the move to Victoria was to follow these aspirations and potentially make more of myself in the football department,” he says.
“To achieve this, Caniglia has his eyes set on capturing the competition alight this campaign, and in the process helping Richmond ensure their top flight status before evaluating his opportunities beyond this season, with the aim being to return to the professional setup.
Judging from his individual display last Friday night, that prospect isn’t too far off if he can replicate those performances regularly. The perfect opportunity arises for him tonight as the 2015 NPL1 Champions host Melbourne Victory, as Friday night top-tier football makes a return to Kevin Bartlett Reserve.
Image: Saangpi Suan/Richmond SC