Viduka Watch: Middlesbrough's Triumph

Last night I watched one of the most amazing games of football I have seen for a long time: Middlesbrough vs. Steau Bucharest in the Uefa Cup semi-final. Middlesbrough lost 1-0 in the first leg, yet in the first 25 minutes they conceded a further 2 goals. The Teesiders were 3-0 down on aggregate and needing to score at least 4 goals to go through to the final. As history now attests, Middlesbrough scored the four necessary goals, but reading match reports doesn't capture the true thrill of this game.

Middlesbrough had a match winner for each of the four goals: Maccarone, Downing, Boateng and Australia’s very own Mark Viduka.

Boateng controlled the midfield from the 25th minute. Maccarone provided two goals and was always dangerous on the right wing while Downing played a huge hand in the last three of Middlesbrough's goals.

Maccarone may have grabbed the headlines but what caught this Australian's eye was the huge part Viduka played in this amazing comeback. For the first 25 minutes Boro were dreadful and the front two of Hasselbaink and Viduka received terrible service. Without exaggeration, the upset yet determined look in Viduka's eyes at the restart following the second goal was enough to remind one that there was still 70 minutes of football to play.

For the next 70 minutes, Mark Viduka played one of the best centre-forward's games this observer has ever seen. Yakubu and Hasselbaink may have scored more goals than our Mark this season but as their recent results show, he is the focal point up forward for this team. His superb holding-up of the ball and simple passes brought the wide players into the game and allowed Boro to launch attacks from deep within their opponents half.

Viduka's goal was courageous. Earlier crosses had come into the box but had been directed at Hasselbaink- he is not a barging physical presence like our Dukes - and the Steau keeper collected easily. When an inviting cross did come Viduka's way the keeper had no such ease. He ran straight at the ball and contested, at some point finding the presence of mind to direct the ball into the net. Game on! It was 2-3 on aggregate with 25 minutes to play. Two more goals were required.

The game reached its unexpected conclusion, Middlesbrough 4 - Steau Bucharest 3, and the party started in the North East of England. Viduka didn't score again but his performance reminded this doubting Thomas how important a strong centre-forward is to a team (without the flair of Brazilians) to building attacks and maintaining pressure on the opposition.

I'm sure Viduka would rate his performance as high as his 4 goals for Leeds against Liverpool years ago. He worked hard for the team and is now in a European Cup Final. His value to the Australian team cannot be doubted. I certainly hope that from the kick-off against Japan that same steely look is in the eyes of our potentially devastating number 9.