Marco Kurz believes Adelaide United were deserving winners following a dominant 3-0 triumph over Melbourne Victory in the last 16 of the Westfield 2017 FFA Cup on Wednesday night.
The Reds booked a place in the quarter finals of the cup competition thanks to a stirring second-half display at Marden Sports Complex.
Sensational strikes from Johan Absalonsen and Nathan Konstandopoulos either side of George Blackwood’s successfully dispatched penalty helped eliminate fierce rivals Melbourne.
Kurz praised the team’s application and insisted the result vindicated Adelaide’s dynamic performance.
“It was a hard game, a big fight against Victory,” he told Fox Sports after the match.
“I think we’re the better team over the whole ninety minutes.
“We controlled the second-half and the whole team has improved during the pre-season.”
However, Kurz admitted his side struggled to retain possession to begin proceedings and absorbed too much pressure.
“I think in the first twenty to twenty-five minutes we were too afraid and we dropped back too much,” he explained.
“But then we changed a lot and said we must get more pressure on the ball and played with more bravery.
“And the team did a good job and I want to congratulate them because I think it was a big win today.”
The Reds’ defensive unit produced another impenetrable outing – stifling Victory’s attack and keeping the likes of Besart Berisha and Kosta Barbarouses extremely quiet.
Impressively, United are yet to concede a goal at Marden against Hyundai A-League opposition in their past three competitive Westfield FFA Cup matches.
But Kurz maintained his side still have ample room to develop and improve before the league season starts in October.
“We have enough work in the next six weeks,” he said.
“I think the win is good but tomorrow we have training and then we start again.”
