Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz critical of slow start and crucial free kick call in Sydney FC loss

ADELAIDE United coach Marco Kurz has lamented his team’s slow start and the questionable free kick call which led to Sydney FC’s opener in the A-League loss to the Sky Blues.

Adelaide United’s Ben Halloran challenges for the ball in the Reds’ A-League loss to Sydney FC. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Christo

ADELAIDE United coach Marco Kurz has lamented his team’s slow start and the questionable free kick call which led to Sydney FC’s opener in the loss to the Sky Blues.

The Reds failed to turn a late fightback into a point as they went down 2-1 in Sunday’s A-League clash at Jubilee Stadium.

Kurz said his players had fallen short of the high standards set in their thrilling midweek triumph over Melbourne Victory.

The German was also critical of the decision to award a foul for Nikola Mileusnic’s tackle on Milos Ninkovic, which led to a brilliant set piece goal by Siem de Jong.

“No foul,” said Kurz, when asked post-match if Mileusnic’s first-half challenge warranted a free kick.

“The (Mileusnic) tackling was for me good tackling, but our mistake before was a big mistake.

“We can clear the ball very easy, but we decided to play.

“I don’t know what the referee decides.

“But we have to respect it, because we did the mistake before.”

Adelaide’s problems were compounded after the break, when Jacob Tratt powered home a header from a corner.

Craig Goodwin’s penalty soon after pulled the Reds back into the contest, but Kurz said the visitors had left themselves with too much work to do.

“Before the game we said, ‘let us start with the same confidence with the same intensity as against Victory’,” Kurz said.

“I think we didn’t start well in the game. The good thing was that we gave the answer very quick with the penalty.

“At the end we had the chance to score the equaliser.

“But the performance in the first half from my side was not god enough to get realistically a point or three points.”

Adelaide United’s Nikola Mileusnic tackles Milos Ninkovic in the challenge which led to Sydney FC’s free-kick opener. Picture: AAP Image/Steve Christo

Kurz was satisfied with sixth-placed United’s return of 19 points from the first 13 games of the campaign.

He said the Reds would continue to look for reinforcements during the FIFA January transfer window.

“We are Adelaide United. We are not Sydney, we are not Victory, we are not (Melbourne) City.

“We have a different budget and I think we are on a good way.

“We are looking for a new player.

“But it must make sense that we find a good one who can help us and it’s not easy to find a player in January.

“But we will work and I’m still positive that we have the chance to sign a new one.”