The latest Melbourne derby has made an entry in the Guinness World Records after securing a special record for the “Longest time between goals in the same football match”. In that same official game, while Melbourne City took almost 109 days between their two goals, former Premier League footballer Aiden O’Neill scored both those historic goals.
That Melbourne Derby was officially scheduled on 17 December 2022 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park). Former Burnley central midfielder Aiden O’Neill scored the opening goal of that encounter in the 11th minute as City took a 1-0 lead in front of almost 18000 fans.
But due to a violent pitch invasion by spectators, that game was abandoned with a 1-0 scoreline in the 22nd minute.
Same Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park: Melbourne City’s Aiden O’Neill scored two goals between 108 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes
On 5 April 2023, that game was resumed in the 22nd minute at the same venue, where more than 6000 spectators were present. In the 57th minute, O’Neill extended City’s lead to 2-0. Though City as well as O’Neill recorded those two goals between 46 minutes of that game, it officially took 108 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes to settle those goals.
Though Sri Lankan descent Nishan Velupillay scored a goal for Victory in the 89th minute, City ultimately won that game by a 2-1 margin.
Guinness World Record
Competition: 2022/23 A League Men
Venue: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium (AAMI Park), Melbourne, Australia
Team: Melbourne City – Record holder
Player: Aiden O’Neill (Australian) – Record holder
Opposition: Melbourne Victory
Dates: 17 December 2022 (match abandoned in the 22nd minute) and 5 April 2023 (resumed at the 22nd minute)
Final score: Melbourne City 2 (Aiden O’Neill 11’, 57’) – Melbourne Victory 1 (Nishan Velupillay 89’)
Record time between two goals of the same match: 108 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes – Record
