Adelaide United pulled off a great escape to prevail 2-1 in dramatic fashion over Newcastle Jets, but according to Carl Veart it was his team’s worst performance of the season.
Fifteen-year-old Nestory Irankunda sent a free-kick up and over the wall level proceedings two minutes from time before Hiroshi Ibusuki scored a close-range header.
Adelaide was insipid for the majority of the game but did show signs of improvement after conceding just prior to the hour mark.
Veart was unsure why his team began the contest so poorly.
“I’ve got to say that was most probably our poorest performance of the season,” Veart told the media in the post-match press conference.
“We were just second to everything today. Newcastle didn’t allow us to play, they were very good and came with good energy and we just couldn’t get out of the blocks.
“Struggled with our ball movement. I suppose we hung in the game, stayed in the game and pinched it at the end.
“It’s football isn’t it. When you’re on top in games if you don’t kill the other team off they can always come back.
“It’s happened to us a few times this year, and it’s on the other foot this time. Happy to take three points but very disappointed with the performance.”
However, the unconvincing victory does move United into third place on the table.
Veart admitted his team cannot afford to acquit themselves like they did tonight against Sydney FC on Friday or risk being beaten.
“It’s going to be a tough game next week, a game that we always look forward to playing against Sydney,” he said.
“They’re a great team, have been a great team for a long time so it’s always good to put yourself up against teams like that.
“But we’ll have to have a good look at this week, have a look at what we didn’t do and improve, because if we play like that again next week against Sydney I don’t think they’ll allow us to hang in the game like what happened tonight.”
The Reds boss also spoke about Irankunda’s amazing free-kick, praising his dedication.
“That’s all he does at training,” he revealed.
“He spends hours just kicking the ball at the goal from free-kicks. He practices a lot and that’s what you get when you practice your craft as well as he has been doing.
“He normally goes in the other corner though, so he surprised everyone.”
