Has John Kosmina ever slipped under the radar before? The larger than life Adelaide United coach is usually a noticeable presence but his in-form Reds have clearly snuck up on the rest of the league.
Adelaide’s 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at Hindmarsh Stadium yesterday was rollicking stuff, full of great goals, dodgy decisions and a penalty save that will go down as arguably the best in A-League history.
It was a thoroughly entertaining affair and though the Reds rode their luck, it moved them to within one point of current table-toppers Central Coast Mariners.
Two of the main protagonists were Adelaide’s classy imports, Marcelo Carrusca and Fabio Ferreira.
Despite touching down in Australia with an obvious pedigree following two spells at Argentine giants Estudiantes and a stop at Turkish outfit Galatasaray, among others, Carrusca’s arrival was overshadowed by bigger-name recruits.
That just goes to show the quality of players the A-League is now attracting, but after his stellar performance against the Phoenix, Carrusca has clearly shown he’s a force to be reckoned with.
His first goal from a contentious free-kick was somewhat of a fluke, but his second was all class, as the Argentine skipped past a couple of would-be tacklers before drilling a low shot inside Mark Paston’s near post.
Paul Ifill probably won’t be buying Stein Huysegems a Christmas card this year after the Wellington striker slid Ifill’s diagonal shot home despite the fact the ball already looked certain to cross the line.
Replays suggested Huysegems was level but an offside flag ruled the goal out and Adelaide made the Phoenix pay when Ferreira then drove home on the counter-attack.
The Portuguese midfielder has taken a circuitous route into the A-League after starting his professional career at Chelsea but failing to get on the pitch.
After struggling to resurrect his career back home in Portugal, Ferriera ended up at New South Wales Super League side Dulwich Hill.
Despite impressing, he was overlooked by Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers before Kosmina offered Ferreria a professional lifeline.
He’s grabbed it with both hands, scoring three goals so far this season and adding an extra dimension to the Reds with his pace and penetration.
Along with Argentine attacker Jeronimo Neumann, Adelaide’s off-season recruits have arguably been the league’s best so far and their form goes a long way to explaining why it’s Adelaide and not the likes of Brisbane Roar or Melbourne Victory putting so much pressure on the Mariners.
Yet for all the shrewd acquisitions, it was an old hand who proved he’s lost none of his spark in the final minute of the game.
Facing a penalty following a clumsy Nigel Boogard challenge, Eugene Galekovic pulled off a miraculous one-handed save from substitute Tyler Boyd, before spreading himself to deflect Boyd’s point-blank follow-up away.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Boyd, who was looking for his first A-League goal, as Galekovic’s stunning Schwarzer-esque parry ensured the game ended on a high note for the Reds.
Sadly there was a sour note for Wellington star Paul Ifill, who was allegedly racially abused by Adelaide fans during the match.
If that’s the case then hopefully the culprits are identified and banned from attending fixtures.
It’s hard to believe such a thing could even happen in 2012 but it seems some people never learn.
Kosmina seems to have learned plenty though during his time away from the A-League.
What’s more, he’s picked up several handy imports who could yet prove the difference between the Reds and a steadily consistent Central Coast side.
He may not be everyone’s cup of tea and Kosmina is sensibly keeping a lid on expectations for the time being.
But after a run of four wins from their last five matches, Kosmina and his charges can’t slip under the radar for too much longer.
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
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Clubs have cited regulations claiming players who decline national team call-ups ought to be prevented from featuring at a domestic level.
