Usain Bolt scored his first goals in professional football on Friday after starting up front in a pre-season game for Australia’s Central Coast Mariners.

The 100 metres world record-holder, who is bidding for a professional contract, recovered from a painful kick in the groin to grab a double against Macarthur South West United in Sydney.

Bolt started up top alongside Ross McCormack, the former Fulham and Leeds United forward, who put the 32-year-old through for his first goal. Bolt’s finish went underneath the goalkeeper with his left foot after some slack marking on 55 minutes, celebrating with his trademark “Lightning Bolt” pose.

The Jamaican then capitalised on a defensive mix-up — the defender and the goalkeeper ran into each other — to roll the ball into an empty net for his second on 69 minutes before being substituted six minutes later with the score at 4-0.

It meant Bolt, who was making his third appearance for the Mariners, finished the game with the same amount of goals as completed passes — two — from four attempts.

“My first start and scoring two goals, it’s a good feeling,” he told Fox Sports.

“I’m happy I could come here and show the world I’m improving. I’m keen to be a Mariner, to play my best and get into the team.

“The coach said to me, you’ll get chances, you’ll score some, you'll miss some, don’t put your head down, keep your head up and try for the next one.”

It was the first game Bolt has started since joining the A-League club in August for an indefinite trial. Speaking on Wednesday, Bolt said it was his last chance to impress.

“This will determine . . . [what] the club want to do with my career, so it’s a very important game,” Bolt said. “I have been improving but you won’t know what level you’re at until you play a competitive game so I just have to go out there and see what I need to do or whether I should continue or not.

“I’m just pushing myself and have put in the work so now I have to go out there and execute.”

Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Bosnich said although there were improvements in his game, Bolt still had a long way to go to transform himself into a professional soccer player.

“Slight improvement if you want to say that but his touch is still very poor,” Bosnich, currently a Fox Sports commentator, said during the match.

“His speed endurance is a little bit better but he still looked tired after 15-20 minutes. He just looks a little bit sharper.”

Agencies