Shepparton product Alou Kuol broke a 10-week goal drought as he hit the back of the net for Central Coast Mariners on Sunday. Photo: AAP/Andrew Cornaga.
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Andrew Cornaga
Shepparton’s smoking gun striker, Alou Kuol, is firing once again.
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After a 10-week goal drought in the A-League Men’s, Kuol finally hit the back of the net in league competition for Central Coast Mariners during a 3-1 victory over Perth Glory on Sunday.
The 23-year-old took just five minutes to make his mark, glancing a header from a devilish Alfie McCalmont delivery past the Glory keeper and in for a 1-0 Mariners lead.
It surely brought a wave of relief for the young marksman, whose season in front of goals has slightly fizzled given his whiz bang introduction.
Kuol secured a brace against Sydney FC early in the campaign, but the Mariners, despite entering the 2024-25 season as reigning premier and champion, have not endured a fruitful run as they sit 10th with four games remaining.
However, the former Goulburn Valley Suns’ four league goals still puts him as his side’s top scorer in the A-League this season.
In the post game press conference, Central Coast Mariners coach Mark Jackson was questioned about Kuol’s goal, but instead chose to channel his response around the service — or lack thereof — his attacking threats have received this season.
“It’s not just on our strikers,” he said.
“Of course everybody looks at the strikers when you’re not scoring goals, but how we create opportunities for our strikers is important as well.
“I thought we created a lot of chances today, I thought we were more free flowing in our football, but then there will be elements where we can be better as well.
“But we’re going to build on that and try and finish the season off strong.”
Meanwhile, while one Shepparton export is hitting his stride in the A-League, another will be forced to the sidelines.
Shepparton’s James Nieuwenhuizen will be out for an extended period after undergoing surgery for an ACL rupture.
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Melbourne City FC
Kuol’s former teammate at the Suns, James Nieuwenhuizen, has successfully undergone surgery after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The young Melbourne City goalkeeper, who has featured on the Sky Blues’ bench seven times in the A-League this season, sustained the injury at home, with Nieuwenhuizen expected to be out for an extended period while he recovers.
