Mark Rudan admits the only downside to Western United’s stunning 5-1 win at Adelaide United was a ‘concerning’ head knock which ended goalkeeper, and new father, Filip Kurto’s match early.
Head coach Rudan revealed he had offered the Polish shot-stopper the weekend off after Kurto’s wife gave birth to their first child only two days before the match at Coopers Stadium.
A joyful end to the week for the Kurto family turned troubling when the 28-year-old knocked his head on the ground following a fall in the ninth minute of Saturday’s clash in South Australia.
After being assessed for three minutes, it was determined Kurto could not continue. Back-up Ryan Scott, a 23-year-old former bricklayer signed in November, made his Hyundai A-League debut as Besart Berisha’s double led the Green and Black back into the top six, and Rudan dedicated the win to his stricken gloveman.
“It was concerning,” Rudan said. “He was still wobbly when I saw him.
“He still wasn’t himself because Filip experienced one of the best things – if not the best thing you can in life – and that’s the birth of his first son on Thursday.
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“Normally, I’d say, mate, take the weekend off, enjoy it, get a bottle of champagne and be with your wife.
“But Filip wanted to play and that what’s disappointing, but we did it for him.”
After pummelling the Central Coast Mariners, 6-2, last week, United backed up their devastating display of finishing with another goalscoring clinic against a shambolic Adelaide United defence.
Flying wing-back Josh Risdon recorded three assists, while Alessandro Diamanti, Max Burgess and Connor Pain all got in on the act to make it 11 goals in two games after the Victorian outfit had fired blanks in three straight matches.
“The players executed the game plan to perfection, I’m really proud of them,” Rudan said.
“That’s 11 goals in two games now. This is the time of year to play football as well…
“Tough game last week, albeit against Central Coast Mariners, you’ve still got to play and beat what’s in front of you.
“We wanted to make sure that we didn’t drop our standards and make sure it wasn’t a one-off last week.
“We took the second-half performance against Wellington into the Central Coast game and, again, took that into [Saturday’s] game.”
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Adelaide United head coach Gertjan Verbeek lost star attacker Ben Halloran to sickness before the game and, after dropping out of the top six, the Dutchman admits qualifying for the Finals Series will be difficult with performances like this.
“Disastrous. 5-1… it is not ok. They were better and we had an off day,” Verbeek said.
“We did not play as a team, then it’s very difficult to win the game.
“All of the goals – all five – came from transition. We have the ball and we lose the ball.
“If you see how we lose the ball, that cannot happen in the A-League.
“You know the quality of [Western United] – they showed it last week already against Central Coast – so we were warned….
“In the transition, we were not sharp, not alert, not communicating.
“Then you have two good strikers in [Alessandro] Diamanti and [Besart] Berisha and you defend like this.”
SUNDAY PREVIEW: Perth Glory v Melbourne City
SUNDAY PREVIEW: Central Coast Mariners v Wellington Phoenix
Round 23
Adelaide United v Newcastle Jets
Sunday, 15 March
Coopers Stadium
Kick off: 5.50pm local, 6.20pm AEDT
Western United have a bye
