Don’t call me United’s goal Messiah, says Ilso

At a time when the A-League is crying out for characters, Adelaide United’s Ken Ilso is a breath of fresh air.

Ken Ilso Adelaide United celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against the Wellington Phoenix. Picture: Getty Images

At a time when the A-League is crying out for characters, Adelaide United’s Ken Ilso is a breath of fresh air.

Since the national competition kicked off in 2005, it is doubtful a player has ever used the word “humdinger” to describe one of their goals, but that’s what we got from the Danish attacker after he described his second goal in the 3-1 win against Wellington Phoenix last Saturday.

There was much speculation as to whether he actually scored or whether it should have been registered as an own goal. But Ilso had no problems clearing up the situation yesterday.

“I don’t understand that speculation, it was a pure humdinger,” Ilso said with a smile.

“I thought the ball was originally going to come between the goalkeeper and the defender, so I headed for the post and then I saw it went a bit behind the defender.

“I think he was speculating that it might go past him so I then stuck my foot out and it went in.”

The two goals were his first for the Reds since joining them after a four-year stint in Asia where he earned a reputation as a prolific goalscorer, with 55 goals in 85 matches for the likes of Chinese club Guangzhou R and F, Home United (Singapore), Kedah and Penang (Malaysia).

While Ilso was brought to United because of his versatility, he was mainly seen as a number 10 rather than an out-and-out striker. But injuries have forced coach Marco Kurz to use the 31-year-old as a striker.

It’s a position Ilso is comfortable with although he admits he doesn’t care whether he is used in the playmaker’s role or up front.

“I prefer both positions, 10 and nine … but I don’t care where he puts me as long as he puts me somewhere in the team,” he said.

What Ilso does know is that he is not going to make any outlandish predictions about how many goals he can score in the season. He is not going to be Adelaide’s goalscoring Messiah.

“I’ve been hearing that a lot,” Ilso said when it was put to him that Adelaide have been lacking a pure striker. Apparently you keep asking for it (a goal scorer); we’ll wait and see when it comes. I always try make as many goals as I can, but I’m not going to say I’ll be that striker.

“I just want to win. At some point, you’ll get the striker you’re longing for and then we can talk again.”