Muscat hails Barbarouses effect after trying period

Melbourne Victory manager Kevin Muscat has praised Kosta Barbarouses after his two goals helped his side to a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar at Marvel Stadium.

The Kiwi winger notched a first-half brace in what has been a difficult couple of days for his country after the terrorist attack in Christchurch on Friday.

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Barbarouses dedicated his celebration to the victims of the Mosque attack and after the match, Muscat was quick to offer condolences to everyone affected.

“On behalf of the club, our condolences go to everybody across in Christchurch,” Muscat said.

“I can’t imagine what the families of everybody affected are going through so on behalf of Melbourne Victory, our condolences.

“In relation to Kosta, it’s certainly a very emotional subject when you’re speaking to someone so just seeing Kosta and how he was, I didn’t feel the need to have that conversation with him, especially prior to the game and he responded tonight from the affects from his country very well.”

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Barbarouses’ two goals were enough to earn Victory their first win since February as they seek to make a late run for a top two finish.

It continues the fine run of form the 29-year old has found himself in since moving from the wing to a more central position, netting 13 goals in 22 appearances.

Muscat praised his application since switching positions at the start of the campaign.

“To Kosta himself, we’ve asked and we worked on him playing a different role,” Muscat revealed.

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“All the cries at the start of the year were that he’s not a striker and he needs to get out on the touchline and play out wide, but I certainly saw something within the framework that we’ve got, that he’ll get chances and when he’s facing the opponent’s goal.

“When he’s running towards that opponent’s goal, he’s dangerous and he’s been rewarded tonight and the team has been rewarded with a performance that earnt three points.”