Isaias closes in on undreamed-of hat-trick

Adelaide United’s captain is on a rare goal streak ahead of the Reds’ crunch game against Melbourne City.

Isaias in action against Melbourne Victory last month. Picture: AAP

The qualities of Adelaide United’s captain Isaias can never be ­doubted.

In his six seasons in the A-League as the general in the ­United midfield, the midfielder has shown himself to be a skilful and at times combative player and it is with good reason he is regarded as a fan favourite in Adelaide and as one of the best in the ­national competition. But while he has all the ingredients that go into making a top-class player, Isaias is the first to admit goalscoring has never been his strong point.

He scored just a single goal in a little over 200 games during his previous life as a professional in Spain before he joined the Reds in 2013.

Until two games ago, he had done little to shake off the goalscoring blues, having managed a meagre four goals in 139 games for the club. But has the situation started to turn for the better?

It’s looking that way after goals in his past two games, against Central Coast Mariners on January 27 and one last week in the 4-3 win over Brisbane Roar.

Understandably, they were goals he savoured and it’s not hard to see why, given that until his ­effort against the Mariners, he had not been on the score sheet since round 11 in December 2016.

Isaias is now full of confidence but he isn’t about to go overboard.

Asked whether he could continue in that vein, the Spaniard, 31, said he had never scored in three games in a row “not even as a kid and not even in my dreams”.

“It is good to score goals. Against the Mariners I was there in the six-yard box when I am not normally in that position, so it was unusual for me,” he said. “The free kick (against Brisbane) was in a good position for me.

“But, no, I don’t work on it (goalscoring). I try to put some past (goalkeeper) Eugene (Galekovic) at training but it is very hard.”

It was Isaias’s free kick that gave his side the impetus to turn around a three-goal deficit against Brisbane just before half time.

The Roar imploded in the second half and it was Isaias who was the driving force as the Reds turned ­almost certain defeat into a last-gasp win.

“When you (score late to win), of course it is important. Winning games like that gives us high confidence,” he said.

“It is good to keep this winning mentality and form going.”

Mind you, United will need to maintain their confidence given they face a tough contest against Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Saturday night. There will be much riding on the outcome as fourth-placed Adelaide sit two points ahead of fifth-placed City.

There’s also the fact Adelaide have yet to beat the Victorians since coach Marco Kurz joined the Reds last season, though that is of little consequence to Isaias.

“Football sometimes is interesting like this,” he said. “But also it happens the last time with Sydney FC. We had a poor record against them but we play them in the (FFA Cup) final (in November) and we won.

“We can do it against Melbourne City, and why not? We are in good form and have the confidence to go there and do well.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane Roar will appeal against the severity of the suspension handed to goalkeeper Jamie Young, who was sent off in the second half against the Reds.

Young was automatically suspended for one game but the independent match review panel added two matches, meaning he will miss the next three games.

Consensus among commentators and fans is that it is a harsh punishment.