The Rangers midfielder emulated the A-League import on Sunday, kicking a long-range goal similar to Engelaar’s half pitch strike against Central Coast Mariners on March 23.

Martin van Rooy’s last-gasp conversion against Vic Park in the Rangers’ Ballarat and District Soccer Association season-opener was his second of the match and helped the 2013 minor premiers to a 3-1 win.

Rangers coach Nick van Rooy said his brother’s strike could be “one of the goals of the season”.

“He chipped the keeper from 55 metres out,” he said.

“It was further out than the Melbourne Heart one (a few weeks ago).

“It was a brilliant goal. The keeper was off line and he took his opportunity.

“It was the last goal, 10 seconds before the end of the match.”

The Rangers found their feet in the second half after both teams failed to hit the scoreboard in the first half.

Dechlan Picken broke the deadlock in the 60th minute.

Martin van Rooy scored his first at the 75th minute and his second and more spectacular goal in the 92nd minute — one minute after Vic Park scored its only goal.

Martin van Rooy, right back Rhys Clapp and left wing Mikey Ketema were the Rangers’ best in the dogged win.

“It’s good to have a win first up. It was a confidence-boost but as we said, we have to be realistic about it,” Nick Van Rooy said. “We didn’t play at our best, it was scrappy and everyone was exhausted at the end of the game.

“We outran the other team and played a lot more of the game than they did.

“They had a couple of lapses in concentration and that was when we scored.”

Nick van Rooy said it was important the Rangers re-grouped ahead of their round two clash at their Jones Oval base on Sunday.

“We’ve got a true test against Ballarat. They will be the ladder-leaders this year,” he said.

“They have had a strong off season and picked up a few players from other clubs and they had a 5-1 win against North United.”

The Rangers’ men’s reserves team defeated Vic Park 2-1 and their women’s side recorded a 2-1 win against the same club.