United Media spoke to Airton Andrioli after Adelaide United secured a dramatic 3–2 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers under the lights at Coopers Stadium, with Jonny Yull striking the winner deep into stoppage time.
In front of a passionate Christmas crowd of over 13,000, the Reds showed resilience, discipline, and belief to claim three valuable points in a match that demanded patience and sacrifice.
Andrioli on grinding out the win
“We did what we needed to do tonight. In football, you can do everything right and lose, or do everything right and win. For us, the three points go a long way. We said before the game that it’s Christmas time, and we wanted to reward our supporters who came out in big numbers. In the end, the only stat that matters is the scoreline — and we won the game.”
Andrioli on adapting the game plan
“We always prepare a plan based on the opposition. Tonight, we had a plan for Wanderers and we got the result. They are a very good side and one of the best teams in the league. They made it difficult for us, as they do to everyone. Sometimes you’re not going to dominate – you need to defend well, do the small things right, and take your opportunities. That’s what we did.”
Andrioli on a demanding festive period
“It’s a very interesting season. Everyone can beat everyone, and we want to change that by being consistent. We had a tough game in Perth, and coming back from there is never easy. We were probably a little bit flat tonight and lost some physical battles, but we defended when we needed to and found a way to win again.”
Andrioli on Josh Smits’ performance
“He has been very good since he arrived. He’s a tremendous guy in the change room, great with the young players, and a fantastic goalkeeper. He gives us the ability to play out, he’s good with his feet, and he makes big saves. That’s exactly what you want from your goalkeeper.”
Andrioli on Vinko Stanisic’ debut
“I’m extremely proud of the young boys. For a young player to come in and play centre-back against experienced opponents takes courage. He did everything right and will learn from the moments tonight. That’s how players grow.”
Andrioli on patience being rewarded
“The message has always been the same for players who aren’t starting – keep working and be ready. Tonight, players like Austin [Ayoubi] and Johnny [Yull] came on and made an impact. That’s a credit to the group. Training standards are excellent, everyone pushes each other, and wins like this build belief.”
Andrioli on the Coopers Stadium crowd
“It’s a privilege to be here on a night like this, especially at Christmas time. We wanted to reward our families and supporters, and sometimes winning late tastes even better. The atmosphere was special, and the icing on the cake was the three points.”
