The match was one-time Socceroo stopper Petko's first for Sivasspor after a long lay-off with injury.

But in the 41st minute of the Super Lig game against Ankaragucu yesterday morning, Petko picked up a loose ball and cannoned a mammoth clearance.

Instead of simply finding a player's head, it cleared all the way down to the other end where it bounced over the advancing Ankaragucu keeper and threaded its way past the scrambling defence and into the goal.

It was the highlight of a remarkable return to the number one jersey for Petko. Earlier in the match he denied Ankaragucu a potential equaliser when he kept out Murat Erdogan's penalty.

Sivasspor went on to win 3-2 and climbed to third place in the league after the the incredible victory.