Best of times in Olympic Stadium
By Iain Payten
December 13, 2007 12:00am
HE gets asked about it almost every day and footage catches his eye every other week.
And still the memory of slotting home that penalty for a World Cup berth brings goosebumps for John Aloisi.
Right up until he sees himself whip off his Socceroos jersey in front of 83,000 fans, immortalising his abs alongside his goal in Australian sporting history.
"I get a bit embarrassed about taking my top off," Aloisi says. "It was a special night. It was the best atmosphere I've ever experienced."
It was a first for the Mariners star yesterday, however, when Aloisi re-enacted his memorable goal at the site to mark the announcement of ANZ's new naming rights sponsorship of the Olympic Stadium.
After five years as Telstra Stadium, from January 1 the venue will be ANZ Stadium in a seven-year, $31 million sponsorship deal.
But as spectacular as Aloisi's goal was, it is arguably not the most memorable moment ANZ Stadium will soon inherit as history.
In the interests of Christmas table debate, The Daily Telegraph has waded through the many unforgettable moments and selected a top ten.
Not surprisingly Cathy Freeman stands on the top of the dais. Freeman's Olympic fortnight in 2000 remains the benchmark - the sight of Freeman nervously igniting the Olympic flame remains an all-time great moment in Australian sport.
The stomach-churning 49.11 seconds Freeman took to race to a 400m Olympic gold medal then cemented her as a national hero.
But if history is written by the winners, no one told the Wallabies. Jonny Wilkinson's heartbreaking drop-goal in the 2003 World Cup final is our third pick and in eighth is the "greatest ever Test" Bledisloe Cup loss of 2000 in front of a world record 109,874 fans.
The NRL has provided numerous memorable moments: Scott Sattler's try-saving tackle in Penrith's 2003 premiership and Benji Marshall's flick-pass genius in the Wests Tigers 2005 fairytale. Brett Finch's match-winning field-goal for NSW in 2006 makes it, as does the penalty try for Melbourne in the 1999 decider.
Andrew Johns' magic was common at Homebush, but in terms of "memorable" let's start an argument and pick his nine runs for NSW against Tasmania in January.
OK, what's a list without the name Beckham in it? Goldenballs' wonder strike in front of 80,000 people can't be denied.
