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Tough year ... but Dino Kresinger has come good at the right time. Source: Craig Greenhill / News Limited
Dino Kresinger admits his maiden A-League season has been "frustrating" for him - but the big striker promises he is coming good at the business end of the season.
The much-maligned Croatian opened the scoring with a stunning back-heel goal for Western Sydney Wanderers in the preliminary final against Brisbane Roar.
It was a goal that would have dominated highlights reels if not for Shinji Ono trumping him later in the night.
But Kresinger admits it was just a giant relief to get on the scoresheet.
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"Definitely (a big relief)," he told foxsports.com.au.
"I expect every game to score.
"I don't know what's happened this year. The ball didn't want to come in.
Melanie McLaughlin and Andy Harper deliver a special LIVE grand final edition of Kick Off at 8.30pm EST on Fox Sports 1 HD on Wednesday. Joining the hosts will be former Adelaide coach John Kosmina, Perth captain Jacob Burns and Herald Sun journalist David Davutovic.
"(The goal was) a really good feeling and I really enjoyed that moment.
"It was a really nice feeling for me. You work hard but sometimes the ball doesn't want to come.
"It has given me confidence at the right time now that the finals is here."
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Of all the players to rise to the finals stage, Kresinger was probably the last person on people's minds.
Some even coined the Twitter hashtag "#IsawDinoscore", as his goal tally remained stuck on one. A Kresinger goal rarer than hen's teeth. You'll wait longer for a goal than for Harold Holt ...
But Kresinger answered. And how.
Plenty questioned the likeable import's contribution to Popovic's success, but Fox Sports football expert Mark Rudan says he has played a key role in the side's success – particularly by bringing the likes of Youssouf Hersi and Mark Bridge into the game.
"(Popovic) tweaked it a bit when he had troubles finding a proper No.9 – someone that can score a number of goals; he went with someone like Kresinger to hold the ball up and get others players into play," Rudan explained.
"The thing I've noticed the most is their ability to get one of the wide players tucked in much closer to the striker.
"At training, they work a lot on their combination plays and the goal against Brisbane was a prime example of that.
"If you can get both those two (finishing and hold-up play) things, fantastic; but you can see the qualities of Dino in last few rounds."
Indeed, the big games have brought the best out of him.
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Fox Sports Stats reveal that Kresinger's ability to win headers in the air and flick them on for runners has directly led to vital goals in round 17 against Brisbane Roar, and round 27 against Newcastle Jets.
He's also proved a nuisance for defenders at key moments - most notably winning a penalty in round 10 against Brisbane, and a free-kick against Sydney FC in the final derby, which Shannon Cole dispatched.
All up, he's been involved in six goals this season - via two goals, two assists and two involvements. But despite playing a 'role', the import isn't satisfied with his contribution.
"Definitely (been frustrated at times)", Kresinger admits.
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"Before, maybe not last couple of months because the team is winning without my goals. When the team is winning, it's no problem. But early on, when the team is not winning and I am not scoring, it is a frustrating. Not a little bit, but big.
"I feel I was contributing but it wasn't enough for me. I wasn't feeling so good.
"As a striker you have to score goals; you like to score goals.
"It just didn't want to come. I feel as though I did contribute, but not as much as I wanted."
Kresinger thanked Popovic for sticking with him – and helping him keep confident during his barren run.
"Every week we speak with the coach and he's said just keep doing what you're doing, the goal will come. The hard work, how we train, it had to come. So that was really good, gave the confidence to every player.
"The coach is here for you, to keep belief in you that you can do good."
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So as they reach the big game, Kresinger feels he's getting somewhere near his best – at a time of year where "you can feel it in the air that there's big (things) coming".
And the team's ability to perform and contribute goals when their marksman wasn't sums up the quality that Kresinger says separates his side from the other.
"The biggest thing is we play for eachother. If someone makes mistakes, we're here to help. We are like a family.
"There is no player more important. We have in some games some others come in because of injury but all the players are like one … that's the main strength.
"As days passed I felt much better; found new friends, now I'm like at home. I feel good, the weather is good, the city is good. Everyone is here to help you, especially at this club."
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