Adelaide United secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Western Sydney Wanderers at Coopers Stadium on Friday evening, with Adrian Stenta’s side delivering a composed performance to claim all three points.
The victory lifts the Reds to fourth on the Ninja A-League ladder and included Erin Healey’s first goal for the Club.
Speaking after the match, Stenta was full of praise for his team’s efforts and their ability to control the game.
“I am very happy with the win and the three points, but probably more happy with the performance,” Stenta said.
“I felt like it was a game that we were able to control for large parts, and we created a lot of opportunities. We probably didn’t make the most of them, so that’s an area for improvement moving forward. But I feel like it was a really controlled, professional performance from the players, and I’m super happy for them to get the reward.”
The match marked a triumphant return for Erin Healey, who netted the winner despite concerns over her fitness in the lead-up to the game with a toe injury. Stenta reflected on the unpredictable nature of football:
“A week is a long time in football,” he said. “I am really pleased for Erin, because she really deserved to score a goal across these first couple of months of the season. She’s created so much and been such a threat for us in the final third. I’m sure she was playing in a little bit of discomfort, not quite 100% over her injury, but it was a reward for effort and a fantastic performance off the bench.”
While the Reds dominated possession and created numerous chances, Stenta acknowledged that the scoreline could have been more comfortable but emphasized the importance of the clean sheet.
“One goal is all you need to win if you can keep a clean sheet,” he said. “I’m very happy with that. We’ve shown this year that if we make it really difficult for our opposition to score, we’re a good chance to take the three points.”
The victory also came with some concerns, as Tiarna Karambasis, who started her first game for the Club, was forced off after a head injury. Stenta provided an update on her condition:
“She copped a bit of a head knock early, but the medical staff said she was okay to go back on. Then she headed another ball later in the game, so we didn’t want to take any risks and used the concussion sub. She will see the club doctor at some point in the days following the match to get checked out, so we’ll know more then.”
In addition to Healey’s contribution, the match saw the return of Nano Sasaki, who played her first minutes of the season after a difficult offseason.
“We’re really happy for Nano,” Stenta said. “It’s been a long time out and a bit of a tumultuous offseason for her as well. Great to see her back in and amongst the group. We just need to build some minutes into her now, and I think she can be a real strong player in our side this year.”
As the team heads into 2025, Stenta remains optimistic about the remainder of the season.
“If we can find a level of consistency with our football, I think we’ll be a really dangerous threat moving forward in this competition.”
With the win propelling Adelaide United up the table, there’s no doubt that the team’s confidence is growing as they look to build on this momentum.
