Maty Ryan’s penalty shootout heroics helped Australia overcome Uzbekistan in the Asia Cup
Brighton and Hove Albion goalkeeper Maty Ryan admitted that his penalty shootout heroics in Australia’s win over Uzbekistan in the round of 16 of the AFC Asian Cup is one of the pinnacles of his career so far.
The 26-year-old produced some wonderful saves to keep the scoreline 0-0 in normal time and kept out two penalties to set up a quarter-final clash with host nation United Arab Emirates on Friday.
And Ryan, who saved his first penalty in national colours, was very pleased with his achievement.
He said, “Recently I got 50 caps to my name, but I hadn’t saved a penalty for the national team, it was something that was bugging me.
“To get two at that moment makes me really happy and for a goalkeeper that’s the pinnacle.”
“In this day and age, you’re always trying to have a look before the game to see if you can gain some kind of advantage.”
Ryan replicated former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer’s shootout heroics in 2005 against Uruguay which sealed qualification for the Socceroos to the 2006 World Cup, ending their 32 year-long absence from the international stage.
The Brighton keeper was just a kid back then and he admitted that he had never dreamt of representing Australia.
“Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would be out here representing Australia, having been a young fan that night.
 “A few of their takers mixed it up either side. You have to have a bit of luck at the end of the day with the side you choose to go or whether you stay in the middle.
“Thankfully twice they [the decisions] paid off.”
