Ben Garuccio’s incredible scorpion-kick goal has stolen the show and gone viral as Western United beat Western Sydney 3-2 to leap back to the top of the A-League Men table.

Garuccio’s delightful 73rd-minute finish, when he met Aleksandar Prijovic’s outside-of-the-boot chip with an instinctive, diving scorpion kick into the bottom corner, followed an earlier 45th-minute strike for the full back, who previously hadn’t scored in the ALM since 2018.

It was reminiscent of Riley McGree’s instinctive scorpion goal in 2018 that was nominated for the Puskas Award.

“I did mean it. But could I do it again in 1000 goes? Probably not,” Garuccio told Paramount+.

WHAT A GOAL! 🦂

Ben Garuccio with a scorpion kick to put @wufcofficial up 3-1! #WUNvWSW pic.twitter.com/ZSBN1kWztZ

— 10 Football (@10FootballAU) February 20, 2022

“I did it at training a few weeks ago and I face-planted, so I suppose it’s just one of those. It’s probably one in 1000.

“I saw Aleks get the ball and I saw both the defenders go out and I thought ‘I’ll try make the run’ and to be fair, unbelievable ball.

“I threw my leg at it. I tried to watch it the best I could and I looked up and I was in the net.

“I couldn’t concentrate for the rest of the game. I was daydreaming, honestly.”

Garuccio joked he’d have to frame his left boot, but then said he’d have to wear them again in the next game.

A first goal in green and black for @Bengaruccio 💚🖤#WUNvWSW pic.twitter.com/MgcKZSUwkB

— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) February 20, 2022

United striker Prijovic delivered both assists and also scored the opening goal in the 27th minute in a masterful performance up front.

Tomer Hemed scored a 51st-minute penalty for Western Sydney, while Steven Ugarkovic netted in the 85th minute.

Prijovic missed a 17th-minute header but made amends 10 minutes later when he burst past Jack Rodwell, latched onto Tomoki Imai’s long ball and coolly chipped Daniel Margush for the opener.

United doubled its lead on the stroke of half-time when Prijovic took a lovely touch from Alessandro Diamanti’s reflex ball out wide, turned and slipped through Garuccio, to smash home at the near post.

It's that man again!

Aleksandar Prijović opens the scoring in this fixture for the second time this @IsuzuUTE A-League season as @wufcofficial go ahead.

Live details: https://t.co/PPUUwvci8V#WUNvWSW on @ParamountPlusAU #WeAreALeagues pic.twitter.com/Ex23PGMM5d

— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) February 20, 2022

Wanderers coach Mark Rudan responded to his side’s dismal first half by hooking three big names at half-time – Rodwell, Dimi Petratos and Terry Antonis.

Ziggy Gordon, Ramy Najjarine and Ugarkovic entered the fray and five minutes later the Wanderers earned a penalty when Najjarine’s cross flicked Imai’s trailing arm.

Hemed coolly dispatched the spot kick to get Western Sydney back into the match, but was denied by a brilliant Jamie Young save in the 56th minute, then spurned chances in the 58th and 62nd minutes.

After Garuccio restored United’s two-goal lead, Young brilliantly denied Ugarkovic in the 80th minute.

But the midfielder ripped a wonderful skidding shot in the bottom corner five minutes later to make for a lively finish.

-AAP