The Shepparton gunslinger scored the second in a 4-2 Mariners win over Perth Glory on Sunday, December 31, following up a lashed strike on goal in the 39th minute to put his side ahead.
But it was his work off the ball which impressed the gaffer.
Kuol’s relentless pressing and link-up play earned top marks from Jackson, who praised the striker in his sixth start of the season.
In the post-match conference, Jackson was quizzed as to whether Kuol’s performance against Perth was his ‘‘best all round game’’ this campaign.
“He got his chance today to start and I’d agree that it’s one of his stronger performances,” he said.
“He created chances ... he got a goal, he could’ve had another one as well with a fantastic strike.
“I think he’s starting to understand his role, out of possession as well.
“He’s one of a group of strikers that were working really hard here.”
Central Coast was on the back foot early as Perth target man Adam Taggart scored the opener inside 20 minutes, but Mariners’ left-back Jacob Farrell levelled the pegging 10 minutes later with a well-taken cross-goal finish.
Then, in the final five minutes before half-time, Kuol peeled off to the right as Mariners forward Marco Tulio speared through the centre.
Kuol received the ball to send a rasping drive into the gloves of Glory goalkeeper Cameron Cook and, with the shot spilled on the goal line, Shepparton’s finest needed no invitation to lunge in and prod the ball home to give his side the ascendancy.
He almost had a second if not for the brilliance of Cook in net on the other side of half-time.
The Mariners executed a slick movement down the right with Kuol smashing a half-volley destined for the top right-hand corner.
However, the Perth custodian was on hand to glove the ball away at full stretch and deny the 22-year-old a brace.
Kuol was substituted in the 85th minute, with the Mariners holding on to a 4-2 lead at the death.
The former Goulburn Valley Suns diamond enters the new year with an impressive record in front of goal in the A-League Men, registering three goals from six shots on target this campaign.
Meanwhile, younger brother Garang is halfway through a mid-season break with Dutch club FC Volendam.
Kuol’s loan spell with Volendam will expire at the end of the 2023-24 Eredivisie season when he will return to his parent club, Newcastle United, in the English Premier League.
18°C