Coach Patrick Kisnorbo believes there is more to come from Reno Piscopo after the Melbourne Victory recruit scored a spectacular long-range goal to deliver a 2-1 comeback win over Macarthur FC.
Kisnorbo has also stood by the somewhat "harsh" decision to leave stalwart Bruno Fornaroli out of his squad altogether.
Like their Australia Cup final loss to the Bulls, Victory appeared set to rue a dominant but wasteful A-League Men performance when Macarthur skipper Valere Germain scored in the 51st minute.
But substitute Daniel Arzani sparked the Victory then equalised from the penalty spot in the 69th minute, before Piscopo, 26, delivered the lead in awe-inspiring fashion six minutes later at AAMI Park on Sunday.
With Socceroos coach Tony Popovic watching, Piscopo - who has had a promising career interrupted by injury - received the ball from Kasey Bos in midfield and looped a wonderful strike into the top corner.
But if everyone else was wowed, Kisnorbo played the goal down.
"Reno's goal was great, but the pressure on the ball to gain that ball to pass to Reno was exceptional," he said.
"Over the pre-season, and now the season, he's really fought to get himself in the team through hard work, which is great, and he needs to continue that.
"Regardless of the goal, which was nice, I thought his work on and off the ball was great."
Kisnorbo has started Greek recruit Nikos Vergos, with Jing Reec his preferred substitute striker.
He picked an extra defender in Joshua Rawlins over a third striker.
"I made the decision late yesterday and we went for another defender - I thought Rawlins started really well last week," he said.
"So it was a bit harsh for him to miss out but that's the game. I think Nikos and Jing were outstanding."
Kisnorbo indicated Fornaroli had handled his omission well and he needed to continue to work hard to regain his spot.
Tempers flared when Macarthur's Luke Brattan went through Nishan Velupillay, without being booked, in the 43rd minute.
Kisnorbo was incensed when Morgan didn't book Jake Hollman for effectively a rugby tackle on Ryan Teague in the 59th minute.
He said both Brattan and Hollman's challenges should have earned bookings from referee Jack Morgan.
Victory earned their penalty for a Walter Scott handball.
Kisnorbo felt Scott's arm was away from his body but Macarthur counterpart Mile Sterjovski believed it was in a natural position.
"If I'm being honest - if you were to ask me a few years ago, I'd say it's definitely a pen, but we get given different messages," he said.
"We had a meeting with the head of the referees last week. If you were to ask me after that meeting, it'd be no pen according to him and what he told us.
"So I'm sick and tired of inconsistencies, to be honest.
"Last night there was a penalty that wasn't given (to Central Coast against Perth) for the same thing. It's very frustrating."
Second-placed Victory (2-1-0) host Brisbane next Saturday, and sixth-placed Macarthur (1-0-2) face Sydney FC away next Sunday.
