Melbourne Heart FC Head Coach John van’t Schip felt Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium was a fair result.
Melbourne Heart FC Head Coach John van-t Schip felt Saturday-s 2-2 draw with Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium was a fair result.
Despite the Red and White trailing 0-1 at the interval to a first-half Bruce Djite header, van-t Schip-s side showed character to overturn the deficit to lead 2-1, thanks to first goals from captain Harry Kewell and Patrick Kisnorbo.
However, Melbourne were stung by a Ryan Griffiths goal in the final minute of normal time, leaving both sides with a share of the spoils.
“I think it is a very good result, looking at [the form of] Adelaide in the last few weeks, and where we have come from and even we had the chance to go away with three points,” van-t Schip said.
“Looking at the total game, I think 2-2 is the right result, but still, if you are five minutes before the end of the game and still leading, you should try and take the three points home and unfortunately we didn-t.”
Van-t Schip said that his side had shown great character to fight back from a goal down.
“I think coming back from 1-0 down to 2-1 showed that we have enough character in the team again,” van-t Schip.
“After last week coming from behind, now coming from behind in our away game, and seeing the boys disappointed in the changing rooms after finishing 2-2 against Adelaide, I think that-s a totally different kind of atmosphere.
“We-re happy, we have to continue with the way we are going and improve the way we are playing… and prepare ourselves well for the game against Sydney [FC].”
Van-t Schip was particularly impressed with the contribution of goal-scorer Kewell, who scored his first Melbourne Heart goal in the second half.
Kewell showed leadership and handled the responsibility of the equaliser from the penalty spot, where he had failed earlier in the season against Sydney FC.
Van-t Schip also agreed that the side was growing in confidence and competition for places was hotting up, with the starting debut of Orlando Engelaar and the return of Jonatan Germano.
“We showed it today and we showed it last week and I think the boys showed it also in the games before I was here; there were a lot of games in which they were competitive,” van’t Schip.
“Now they have seen we can also win games and get good results.”
Click here to watch the full post-match press conference here
