Reds strike late to sink Victory’s hopes of finishing in top two

A George Blackwood header put Adelaide United in the box seat to win a home final.

Adelaide’s George Blackwood climbs between two defenders to score for the Reds against Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium. Picture: AAP

A George Blackwood header put Adelaide United in the box seat to win a home final and perhaps give outgoing coach Marco Kurz the fitting farewell he deserves.

The 1-0 defeat for Victory also ensured Kevin Muscat’s side cannot overhaul Sydney in second place on the ladder.

There was no pre-game fanfare for what was potentially Kurz’s last time on the bench at Coopers Stadium before he leaves the club at the end of his two-year tenure.

But there was plenty of passion from his players throughout the clash against their traditional rivals and the 81st minute goal — Blackwood’s third goal of the season — arrived when man-of-the-match Isaias landed a perfect cross onto the head of the lanky striker to sink Melbourne Victory.

Adelaide are now four points clear of fifth and sixth-placed Wellington and Melbourne City.

“It was an important result, a big win and a fantastic game from our side,” Kurz said. “Defensively we were very, very good — very strong. And the boys believed until the end.”

In typical Kurz fashion, Adelaide were in the face of Victory from the off, the German’s tactics worked wonders for the first quarter of the game but there was a sense the visitors’ five-star quality could do some damage in the blink of an eye.

James Troisi was Victory’s most liveliest front man before he was subbed off with a leg injury in the 30th minute, but it was Isaias who commanded the tempo of the first half with some intelligent play.

However, it was Ola Toivonen who was millimetres away from breaking the deadlock just before the break when Honda relayed the deftest of touches before the Swede unleashed a 25m bender that left Reds gloveman Paul Izzo stranded.

Nikola Mileusnic responded seconds later when his left-footed 25m effort had Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton scrambling before the ball bounced just wide of his goal.

Victory did get the ball in the net in the 78th minute when James Donachie headed home a Honda corner only for referee to call a foul by George Niedermeier on Michael Marrone.

“It should have been given a goal, it was that clear and that obvious,” Muscat said.

“Would the ... goal, on a night where there were very, very few chances, have made a difference? I suppose that’s for everyone to assume. There was zero contact or minimal contact from all the replays I have seen ... and then the actual decision, I think, was incorrect.”

THE ADELAIDE ADVERTISER/AAP