Veteran goalkeeper Ante Covic defied multiple laser beams directed into his eyes to emerge as an unlikely Socceroos’ Asian Cup contender with his heroics in Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium.

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The imposing 39-year-old’s performance in keeping a rampant Al-Hilal scoreless in the second leg of the final had decorated former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Bosnich grasping for superlatives to describe the Western Sydney Wanderers gloveman.

“Ante Covic was absolutely world class and deservedly player of the tournament,” said Bosnich.

“If there is a better Australian goalkeeper at the moment I haven’t seen him because he was absolutely phenomenal.”

Covic was named player of the tournament after his title-clinching effort, which included a stunning 85th minute reflex save to deny Yasser Al Qahtani from close range.

While many wouldn’t have got a hand to it, Covic was able to bend it around the post to preserve Western Sydney’s winning 1-0 scoreline from the first leg.

“I always say (big games are) about men and moments. This was the man, this was the moment,” said Bosnich in his role as Fox Sports expert commentator.

Covic has found a rich vein of form in the Asian Champions League, keeping six clean sheets in the club’s eight knockout matches.

He signed with the Wanderers for their first season in 2012 after he was moved on from Melbourne Victory when Ange Postecoglou took over there.

So it would be an extra sweet reward if Socceroos coach Postecoglou was to recognise his undeniable form with a spot in his squad for the home Asian Cup alongside young Europe-based glovemen Mat Ryan and Mitch Langerak.

Covic’s task in Riyadh was made even harder by having several laser beams directed into his eyes whenever he stood still long enough.

He revealed he talked to the referee at halftime about it but nothing changed.

“This is the most amount of lasers I’ve ever caught in my face,” he said.

“You’re aware of it but the last thing you want to do is get frustrated at fans.”

Covic was battling to take in his club’s achievement.

“It’s too good, it’s surreal,” he said.

But he was reluctant to take any special credit, recognising the team-first ethic behind the Wanderers’ stunning success.

“That’s what got us the title, it’s a team thing, we respect each other, work for each other,” he said. “We don’t look at ourselves as individuals.”

Covic was Australia’s third choice goalkeeper behind Mark Schwarzer and Zeljko Kalac at the 2006 World Cup in Germany but he has played only two international matches.

– AAP