A hat-trick by 15-year-old wunderkind Marcelo De La Plaza-Sanchez has led to Laverton Park crushing Northern United 4-1 in the opening round of the FFA Cup knockout competition.
De La Plaza-Sanchez showed his versatility by scoring his goals in a variety of ways, including a tap-in off a rebound from the post, pouncing on a nicely weighted through ball, and even a ridiculous goal directly from a corner kick that somehow drifted across the line.
Picture gallery: Laverton Park v Northern United
The attacking midfielder is eligible for junior football but made his debut in the senior team towards the end of last season as the Reds continued to promote youth for its future.
On this performance, it’s going to be a hard drop for coach Marcelo Tejo.
De La Plaza-Sanchez’s feat came while playing alongside his older brother Andres, who returned to the Reds this season after stints with Geelong and Westgate at higher level, and father Vince, a veteran of the club and also a club delegate.
“It was a good day for him,” Vince De La Plaza told Star Weekly.
“He’s hoping to keep his spot in the team this season.”
The other goal was actually scored by Andres in his first match back to the club.
The holding midfielder is glad to be home after finding it tough to crack first-team football at the higher levels.
“He played his junior days there and has come back to the club,” De La Plaza snr said.
“He tried the higher level and just wasn’t enjoying it.
“He thought he’d come back to the club this year, enjoy his soccer and see what happens.”
It was not all the Da La Plaza-Sanchez show.
Declan Martin was assertive in the central midfield position.
He won the lions share of 50-50 balls in the air, tackled hard and was clean with the ball at his feet.
Piot Kuol and Daniel Andrijanic were sound defensively and another teenager Simon Cardenas was busy up front.
The Reds will host Eltham Redbacks in the second round at Laverton Park Reserve on Saturday at 2pm.
The beauty of the cup is seeing minnows such as the Reds going on a ‘cup run’, and they hope to continue their winning form.
“It’s a new team basically for us, a really young side,” De La Plaza said.
“There’s not many old blokes any more. It gives us a bit more confidence and also a proper hit-out next week.”
Maribyrnong Greens advanced with a 2-0 road win over Endeavour United at Reema Reserve, but Altona North lost a penalty shoot-out 4-2 after its match with Waverley Wanderers was locked at 2-2 after extra
time.
The FFA Cup second round fixtures involving local teams on Saturday are: Laverton Park v Eltham Redbacks, Maribyrnong Greens v Parkmore, Altona City v Monash University or Surf Coast, Doveton v Yarraville Glory, Sandringham v Williamstown, and Melbourne City v Essendon United.
