Nick Tsaroulla began to well up during his post-match interview on BBC following Crawley's 3-0 FA Cup victory over Leeds on Sunday.
The 21-year-old opened the scoring for Crawley in the 50th minute with a sensational solo effort which saw him take possession midway between the halfway line and the Leeds goal.
He outmanoeuvred the Leeds defence with a brilliant turn, drove into the box and then fired a low left-footed shot past Kiko Casilla. It was his first senior goal.
A solo stunner 💥#EmiratesFACup @crawleytown pic.twitter.com/EhRATeSZYI
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 10, 2021
"It's crazy. It's been a long hard road for me with a couple of tough years, but what a moment for me," Tsaroulla told BBC 5 Live after the game.
"I sort of lost myself in the moment, it was all a bit of a blur. But I am buzzing.
"It's been tough for me. Anyone can come back from everything and I just hope that I can inspire somebody else out there."
In 2017, Tsaroulla was involved in a car accident and spent a year spent a year in rehabilitation for the injuries he suffered. He was released by Spurs, a club he had been with since age 12.
Tsaroulla joined Brentford in May 2019 and then signed for Crawley in October of last year.
"Nick Tsaroulla is another one, alongside Max Watters," Crawley manager John Yems said after the game, "a few people have said 'what am I doing signing those?' but sometimes you get these lads who want a second chance, and they come on and perform like that, and it is brilliant for them, because they've had enough knocks so let them enjoy the moment."
"It's been a long, hard road for me."
And what a day it is for Nick Tsaroulla and Crawley 🙌
Watch reaction LIVE on @BBCOne, @BBCiPlayer and online: https://t.co/3BWQ4LOYgI #bbcfacup #FACup pic.twitter.com/sxa9eNLNci— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 10, 2021
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