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With the Socceroos looking for inspiration against a stubborn Saudi side, the Victory superstar was a 63rd minute substitute for hard-working James Troisi - and instantly changed the game.

The Victory man received a fantastic reception from the 24,000 plus fans at AAMI Park and it helped lift him and the team to a stunning 4-2 win.

“I got goose-bumps knowing that family, friends and the majority of supporters were Victory fans," Thompson told au.fourfourtwo.com after the game.

“To be part of the Socceroos and a win like that and to get a reception like that was great.”

Thompson’s work down the left in an unfamiliar role of attacking midfielder helped push the Socceroos into top gear in a barnstorming second half

Barely ten minutes after Thompson’s arrival on the park the green and gold blitzed the Saudis with three well-taken goals to confirm a fabulous comeback.

Harry Kewell headed home Alex Brosque's neat cross after the latter had been released by Thompson’s through ball. Two more goals to Brosque and Emerton killed off the Saudi rearguard.

“It was great to come on and suddenly we got into a good momentum,” said Thompson.

“It was an unfamiliar position for me but I thought I handled it okay. I tried to make as many runs as I could in the short time I had.

“It’s always difficult when you come on and try to get up to speed with the game.”

The 33-year-old striker echoed the sentiments of Saudi coach Frank Rijkaard noting that the Saudis seemed to drop their heads when the second goal equalised the contest.

“They lost their discipline a bit and we seemed to find a lot more gaps and we exploited them,” added the Victory striker, who worked well in tandem with a red-hot Kewell and Brosque.

Thompson gets back on the training paddock later this morning as Victory prepare for Saturday’s must-win clash with the Jets at AAMI Park in the A-League.

Follow me on Twitter @aidothejourno

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