Phoenix striker Kosta Barbarouses: ‘Smeltzy, I’m coming for you, mate’

posted in: A-League (Men), News |

In-form Wellington Phoenix striker Kosta Barbarouses has climbed higher on the all-time A-League goalscorers table and he’s now got former All Whites teammate Shane Smetlz in his sights.

Barbarouses became the fifth-highest scorer in Isuzu UTE A-League history when he scored the winner for the Phoenix in their 2-1 win against Sydney at Auckland’s Eden Park.

It was his 91st goal, taking him ahead of former Melbourne Victory teammate Archie Thompson.

Now, former Phoenix and New Zealand striker Smeltz has become the next player Barbarouses wants to overtake.

“Smeltzy, I’m coming for you, mate,” Barbarouses teased in his post-match interview at Eden Park.

“I really feel good,” Barbarouses told Sky Sports.

“I feel like this year, the responsibility has been on me to produce with goals — especially with Oskar (Zawada) being absent for so long. I’ve become a little bit more of that focal point in games, whereas when Oskar was (fit) I was playing a little bit deeper and the onus wasn’t really on me to score the goals.

“But I’m happy to be producing for the team — and it makes it easier when everyone is working extremely hard behind me as well.”

Barbarouses has scored 11 goals this season, within reach of his season-best tally of 15 which he achieved for Melbourne Victory in 2018-19.

Main photo: Kosta Barbarouses’ goal celebration has become a familiar sight this season.

A-League’s top men’s goalscorers

Jamies Maclaren 151 (Brisbane Roar, Melbourne City, Perth Glory)
Besart Berisha 142 (Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Westem United)
Bruno Foraroli 102 (Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory)
Shane Smeltz 92 (Gold Coast United, Perth Glory, Sydney, Wellington Phoenix)
Kosta Barbarouses 91 (Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Sydney, Wellington Phoenix)