Western United Head Coach Mark Torcaso has won the Liberty Coach of the Month award for December after a fantastic run of results.
The Green and Black scored two huge wins in December, beginning with a stunning late comeback to defeat Adelaide United 2-1 away from home.
Then a week before Christmas, United produced one of its strongest performances of the season to overcome Melbourne City 3-1 in a thrilling match at AAMI Park.
Torcaso said he was honoured to receive the award but believed that the award recognises the hard work of everyone involved in the program.
“I’m definitely proud, but it’s the work by everyone of our staff members that is very important. Helen (Winterburn), George (Mcheileh), JB (Jonathan Barrientos), Sharna (Naidu), Tony (Belica), Amanda (Stella) – every person that contributes is the reason why we’re doing so well,” he said.
“December was a good month for us, we knocked off a couple of important teams in Adelaide and City. No more dramatic than the Adelaide one with the late goals, but it was definitely a good month, and those two games were very memorable ones.”
Following that successful month, United has gone on to win all three of its matches in January and Torcaso is eager to see the players continue their hard work on and off the pitch.
“You’ll get what you see, we’ll constantly work hard. The playing group deserves all the credit for the 7-0 star – yes, the staff put in all the work but the players need to receive accolades for an award like this,” he said.
“They’ll continue to work hard and do their best to perform for the fans, perform for the Club and continue doing the best that we can,” he said.
The Adelaide result came in United’s third game in the competition and second straight away trip, with the afternoon in Adelaide bringing difficult, hot conditions.
United was presented with more adversity as Stacey Papadopoulos suffered a concussion early on in the match before Chelsie Dawber gave the Reds the lead in the 56th minute.
Just as it looked like United might have fallen to a first defeat of the season, Torcaso inspired his team to an amazing comeback with Sydney Cummings and Emma Robers striking in injury time to secure the win.
After a two-week break, United backed that up with a similarly impressive showing of adversity to down City.
Adriana Taranto struck early on but the sides went into half-time tied at 1-1 before Chloe Logarzo came off the bench to change the game.
The Matildas star netted two goals in the second half to guide the Green and Black to a big win against a Melbourne rival.
Torcaso and his side will now look ahead to the remainder of a busy January with three more games to be played this month, beginning with an away trip to face Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday January 14.
