Kurz happy to have Baba Diawara back for Adelaide’s shot at Glory

Baba Diawara has hardly kicked a ball in three seasons with Adelaide United, but he could provide the X-factor against Perth.

Adelaide United striker Baba Diawara could provide the Reds with some X-factor against Perth Glory on Friday night. Picture: AAP

Baba Diawara has hardly kicked a ball in three seasons with Adelaide United, but he could provide the X-factor as the Reds look to book a place in the A-League grand final for the second time in four seasons.

The Senegalese marksman made a telling contribution in United’s 1-0 win over Melbourne City in the second elimination final at Coopers Stadium on Sunday night, coming off the bench as a 76th-minute substitute and setting up the winner for Ben Halloran in the last minute of extra time.

United now confront a difficult task against Premiers Perth Glory in a grand final qualifier at HBF Park on Friday night, on a five-day turnaround and with the West Australians comfortable and rested having had the first week off in the finals series.

Adelaide coach Marco Kurz has promised his resilient side will put up a great fight, even allowing for the fact they had to endure 120 minutes of football against City; they will have just a couple of days to prepare; and they have to travel for the match.

But one positive is that Kurz will have the likes of Diawara eager and ready to make up for lost time. As the 31-year-old showed on Sunday night, he is someone who will add considerable attacking firepower to a United side that has been criticised for a lack of goals this season.

Remarkably, it was just the injury-prone Diawara’s third appearance of what has been a frustrating season in which he has played a total of only 87 minutes.

Added to the meagre total of 19 games (15 starts) in his previous two seasons, it is not hard to see why United fans had wondered if they would ever see the best of a player with undoubtedly solid credentials having played in Portugal and Spain.

Thankfully for Kurz, Diawara, with the help of the dedicated United medical staff, has got himself back in time to make an impact during the most important time of the season.

However, whether he is ready to start against Glory remains to be seen. As Kurz alluded, the attacker is nowhere fit enough to see out the full 90 minutes of a game, let alone one with the intensity of a do-or-die finals game.

Diawara only returned to football last week after injuring himself when he came on as a substitute in the second game of the season against Newcastle in October. In his first game back he came on for the final 22 minutes against Brisbane Roar and scored in a 5-3 win.

“Realistically, Baba is not in shape to play 90 minutes but he can help us,” Kurz said.

“He has done well for us. I am happy to have him back fit to help now.

“He did well when he came on against Melbourne City. We were under pressure and I sat him in front to hold up the ball so we could push up and come into our defensive moments.”

Importantly, a player like Halloran has emerged to take up the slack in the final third, where the Reds have been lacking. The 26-year-old Socceroo was solid on Sunday night and was unlucky not to have scored in the first half.

Kurz admitted his team will be at a disadvantage given the short turnaround but said they have to cop it on the chin.

“We cannot train a lot because we don’t have much time so now the focus is on the recovery. The boys need to do a good job there, look after themselves,” Kurz said.

“Then we will see what shape they are in later in the week. But I don’t expect any problems.

“Of course, Perth are in a better position because they are at home and they don’t have to travel and they will be fresh. I don’t know why this game is on Friday but this situation we cannot change. We have to accept it.”