Jai on wonderstrike: I just thought ‘why not?’

Striker Jai Quitongo has revealed his Queen of the South wonderstrike was the product of repeated practice at Parklea – and that when things opened up for him in a game situation he just thought ‘Why not?’

The 20-year-old netted a goal of the season contender at Palmerston on Saturday by cutting in off the left and wrapping his right boot around the ball to whip it over Alan Martin and into the net off the underside of the bar.

It was a spectacular shot that has been the subject of much attention, and media officer Jonathan Mitchell asked the frontman to explain what was going through his mind when he picked up possession.

Speaking excuslively to gmfc.net, Quitongo said: “I’ve just got the ball and thought to myself: ‘Why not?’ Then I’ve just tried to get my foot around it and hit it with a bit of force and it’s came in under the bar. It was a good strike.

“I’d been practising out there in training, just coming in off the line and crossing it and shooting and stuff like that. During the game it had opened up a bit after I took the ball again and I’ve scored that goal.

“Was it my best? It was up there with my Hamilton goal. But I’m just delighted to be playing, scoring goals and setting them up as well. I can’t complain. I’m playing with a smile on my face and that’s what I want to do.”

Quitongo’s goal – his third of the season – and assist proved enough for all three points despite the fact Derek Lyle pulled one back for the Doonhamers, and he says it was a victory the whole squad could be proud of.

The Scotland Under-21 cap added: “In the first 10 or 15 minutes we were just trying to find our feet in the game. I thought we played our best football in the first half and scored twice – but then conceded.

“In the second half, they looked for a goal, but we defended well and Gats [Derek Gaston] has made two fantastic saves to keep us ahead. It was a good result all round for everybody.”

Image: David Bell