PRODIGY: 15-year-old starlet becomes A-League’s youngest ever scorer – by over a year!

15-year-old Mohamed Toure tore up the record books on Friday night when the Adelaide United prodigy blasted home his first-ever professional goal in the dying minutes of a 2-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.

After becoming the A-League’s third-youngest ever debutant at 15 years and 320 days last week, Toure’s debut strike made him the competition’s record-youngest scorer.

The previous youngest was Tommy Oar, who claimed the record at 17 years, 18 days old when he scored for Brisbane Roar in 2008 – meaning Toure smashed the record by over a full year.

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After emerging off the bench in the 77th minute, Toure was left unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box just seven minutes later, with Riley McGree providing a brilliant assist after jinking past multiple defenders.

Mohamed Toure is the younger brother of fellow attacker Al Hassan Toure, who starred in Adelaide’s FFA Cup campaign and was enjoying a breakout season for club and the Olyroos before suffering a stress fracture last month. The injury is expected to rule him out for another six weeks.

After the match, Mohamed told Fox Sports “It feels surreal. Never thought of doing it in a million years. Not at 15. It’s an amazing feeling, doing it at home, especially in front of my friends and family.”

And he was speechless about his plans to celebrate. “I don’t really know. I don’t know what to say.”

His brother told Fox Sports “We always knew he had it in him, the rest of the family. My dad taught us well.

And he revealed the advice he’d shared with his younger brother: “I told him to keep a cool head. Football is ups and downs. You might be up one day, the next minute you’re down – and you always have to learn from your experiences.”

Toure drew widespread praise for his physicality in both of his brief appearances off the bench, shrugging off more experienced defenders seemingly at will and showing off lightning pace.

But coach Gertjan Verbeek was typically measured in his praise, saying “He’s bringing the team new energy. And of course the goal was fantastic.”

But he hoped the Toure brothers would be sticking in Adelaide colours for years to come, saying “I hope they stay here for a long time.”

The club handed Mohamed a three-year scholarship contract – his first professional deal – earlier this week.

The Reds Director of Football Bruce Djite was quoted in a club statement as saying “Mohamed’s raw ability was evident in his brief cameo against Brisbane Roar last week.

“It was exciting, but only a glimpse of his potential quality because he’s just 15 years old.

“His career is yet to get started and there is still a great deal he has to work on.”

After his goal on Friday, that excitement was only ratcheted up a notch, with many indicating the Australian youth team selectors should be trying to convince Mohamed to follow his brother’s footsteps and represent the family’s adopted home.

Mohamed was born in Conakry, Guinea, and is also eligible to represent Liberia through his parents. But brother Al Hassan has earned plenty of opportunities - and praise - in the U-23 Olyroos, and is in line for a Socceroos appearance in the future.

Earlier, Adelaide United forward George Blackwood was on the wrong end of a brutal ball to the temple in the early minutes of the match.

A Ruon Tongyik clearance was blasted from close range directly into Blackwood’s face, leaving him reeling on the grass.

But Blackwood managed to return to the field and continue against the 10th-placed visitors – and scored a stunning opening goal in the 82nd minute to earn his revenge.

Both sides had their chances in a evenly-poised clash, but the introduction of Toure in the 77th paid dividends. His driving run opened up space for McGree to set up Blackwood for a stunning strike from the edge of the box.

And two minutes later the young gun picked up the memorable goal of his own.