Trademark Kennedy goal lifts Melbourne City morale

Josh Kennedy may have saved Melbourne City's A-League season in much the same way that he saved Australia's last World Cup campaign.

Josh Kennedy Melbourne City A-League

Josh Kennedy's return to fitness and maiden goal has given Melbourne City a boost (AAP) Source: AAP

The towering striker thrilled a nation in 2013 when he nodded home the goal that sent the Socceroos to Brazil and City fans were no less excited on Friday night when he rose to meet a Robert Koren cross to score a trademark goal.

Having failed to score in three games, John van't Schip's side slipped to seventh on the ladder and, with a lengthy injury list, its finals hopes were fading.

Enter Kennedy, who has been struggling to throw off a back injury but couldn't have picked a more opportune moment to score a maiden goal that put City 2-1 up on its way to a rousing 3-1 win against Adelaide United.

"We're happy that he has the monkey off his back with that one," Van't Schip said.

"Again he played almost 90 minutes, so he's on his way to getting fitter and fitter. In the games that are coming he's going to be important.

"Josh could have maybe had two today, but the header was a trademark.

"(He's) important. He keeps defenders busy, he's available when we play a high ball, he can control it and also he's showing that he still has his awareness of being that striker.

"Looking forward he's only going to get fitter, so he'll get better and help the team more and more."

Adelaide went into the match in third spot and playing what Van't Schip considered to be the most watchable brand of football in the league.

City looked to be overwhelmed when United blew off the cobwebs of a sluggish start to score the opening goal, but Van't Schip was delighted with the fight his players showed in a stirring second half.

The win puts it right back in the finals hunt, but the coach was unwilling to label it season-defining.

"Every game is a different chapter," he said.

"The position that we're in, we all know, is critical in the sense that we want to be in the play-offs.

"A win was important. Against Adelaide we showed that we're there and we can compete with the best and even win.

"That should give the team a lot of morale for the coming games."


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Published 28 February 2015 12:54pm

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