Central Coast Mariners young gun Alou Kuol earned the February nomination for Young Player of the Year after a quartet of impressive substitute appearances for Alen Stajcic’s side throughout the month.
From a-league.com.au |
The 19-year-old scored three goals and assisted one other, taking a total of 51 touches in just 111 minutes of game-time across his four games in February. That equates to a goal or assist in just under 13 touches, or 28 minutes of time spent on the ground.
Kuol’s impact came in the big moments for the Mariners in February. On the third day of the month, Kuol came off the bench in the 55th-minute with his side trailing Melbourne City 2-1, and by full-time the Mariners had notched a 3-2 win.
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Matt Simon brought them level and Kuol assisted Daniel De Silva’s winning goal in the 80th-minute to spark what Mariners fans must have felt would be one of the biggest moments of their 2020/21 campaign.
But, just four days later the Mariners did it all again, this time with Kuol at the heart of the action on an unforgettable afternoon in Gosford. Western United had a 2-1 lead in the second half, and once again Stajcic called Kuol into the action with half an hour to play.
The teenage sensation scored twice to seal a second-consecutive 3-2 win and send the fans at Central Coast Stadium wild.
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Kuol’s third goal came of the month came in a 3-2 loss to Adelaide United. The devastating finish put the striker out on his own in the race for the Golden Boot. He’s since relinquished the lead, but will remain in the hunt should he be able to tap back into his ruthless form displayed throughout February.
