IT was a special moment nine years in the making.

As Socceroos debutant Awer Mabil crowned his first appearance in green and gold with an international goal, his good mate Thomas Deng was on hand to be the first to celebrate with him.

The pair grew up together in the same neighbourhood, and now the pair of refugees got their chance to pull on the colours of their adopted nation at senior level.

“Yeah it was very special,” Mabil said post-game.

“You know flashback nine years ago we were playing the park together with our friends and we could never dream of this the way it happened today. It’s amazing that it happened and we have to thank Australia for giving us this opportunity and it’s a big dream come true.”

Deng echoed his mate’s comments, and added that he had backed the winger to find the net as he made an 18-minute cameo.

“We grew up together,” the Melbourne Victory defender said.

“We’ve known each other for almost 9 years or more now, so growing up in the same neighbourhood it’s something that we should be very proud of and our families and the people that are close should be very proud of. And I hope to kick on and do them proud even more.”

“I actually told him that he was going to score just before he was going to come on. So I’m very happy for him, we’ve both opened doors to a lot of young Africans coming up and I hope there’s more to come.”

The FC Midtjylland forward dedicated his maiden international strike to his mother.

“It means a lot but obviously like Thomas said he called it also and the coach called it also, the first time I walked into the camp he was like you’re going to score, you’re going to score two,” Mabil revealed.

“So it was good to get one but it’s amazing, it’s what you dream of. That goal was for my mother, she has sacrificed a lot for me and my family. She’s a single mother so she’s went through a lot so that was especially for her.”

The duo both acknowledged the sacrifies of their families that had helped them get to this point of their careers.

“Yeah there’s been a lot of sacrifices along the way, especially our families,” Deng said.

“My mum is also a single mother, so this is for her. Everything that she’s done for me, all the days she’s been dropping me to training it’s finally paid off. So I’m very happy and I hope she saw this game and she should be very proud of her son.”

Let’s hope there are more incredible Socceroos moments from the newest players to represent our national team.