Kosmina hails Carrusca

Adelaide United coach John Kosmina believes Argentine playmaker Marcelo Carrusca has the potential to be the A-League’s find of the season. Carrusca put in a man-of-the-match display in United’s 4-2 victory over Melbourne Victory on Friday night. In a fiery contest, Adelaide took the lead when forward Evan Kostopoulos scored his first domestic goal of the campaign on two minutes. The Victory equalised moments later but Fabio Ferreira put the hosts back in front, set up by Carrusca’s cheeky, back-heel assist. Carrusca began to stamp his authority on proceedings, unlike his opposite number and former Adelaide United star Marcos Flores, who was making his first appearance against the club since departing the Reds last year for a brief stint in China. The silky midfielder extended Adelaide’s advantage to 3-1 with a top-shelf curling strike that finished a spectacular passage of play that he started seconds earlier before turning provider once more with a set-piece that found the head of Ferreira for his second and United’s fourth. Carrusca’s performance was recognised with the John Kosmina-Kevin Muscat Medal for best afield. “I think he will be eventually,” Kosmina said in response when asked whether Carrusca could be considered the competition’s signing of the season. “He’s still got a long way to go in terms of conditioning and getting used to the pace of it (A-League). “He said to me the other week that he’s done more running here in three months than he’s done in three years in Argentina – but he’s got the magic touch. “He might be one of those players who will give away the ball cheap sometimes, but then you look at the quality you get at the other end of the spectrum and it far outstrips mere mortals.” Kosmina also praised the creative attacker’s stunning goal. “It was a fantastic goal. He started it and he finished it. What a finish it was as well,” he said. “He can see those types of things that a lot of other players don’t see. “It’s the timing, the quality, the way ball went in. (Melbourne Victory goalkeeper) Nathan Coe had no chance.”