Departing Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz has labelled the FFA’s decision to hold the penalty shootout at the Perth Glory supporters end ‘disgusting, culminating in the Reds’ 5-4 loss on spotkicks after a 3-3 draw at HBF Park.
An FFA spokesperson confirmed broadcaster Fox Sports had asked the governing body to have the penalties at ‘The Shed’ end of the ground, instead of making the decision by coin toss.
Kurz first conveyed his anger and then confusion at the deccision – which allowed the Glory a raucous amount of support while the crucial tiebreaker was occurring.
“The decision was done by the FFA and not from the referee, and that’s disgusting,” Kurz said.
“An FFA person came down and said this side, and that was the decision, it’s not fair. That doesn’t mean that we are a (bad) loser. Perth – congratulations, they were better in the shootout.
“But we have to discuss why. What is the reason. Nobody can give me an answer.
“Maybe FFA are making the rules. For me it’s new. I’m from overseas. Is it normal? I’m an old man, but I can learn every time.”
The Reds fought back from going 2-0 down after Diego Castro’s brace to getting one back through Baba Diawara and then equalising in the 94th miinute via Ryan Kitto.
Adelaide again slipped behind in extra-time after Scott Neville’s header, but they once again pegged the Glory back with a headed goal of their own through Michael Marrone.
Castro missed the Glory’s second penalty in the shootout to give the away side the impetus but Reds skipper Isaias missed the team’s fourth spot kick to keep Perth in the contest.
Following a run of five consecutive saved penalties for both teams, Joel Chianese stepped up to send Perth into their second A-League grand final.
“It’s not easy to walk to the penalty spot. Every boy who walked, how can I say it, every boy had balls when he walked to the penalty spot,” Kurz said.
“It will not be the first and not the last player who didn’t score a goal at the penalty. That’s sport.
“They never give up. They always fight to the end. It’s a high quality group.”
Kurz will now depart his post as Adelaide United coach with his next destination currently unknown.
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