Adelaide United created history on Sunday afternoon, winning their first ever Ninja A-League Finals match with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Western United at Coopers Stadium. Head Coach Adrian Stenta was full of praise for his squad’s resilience and defensive steel, as the Reds booked a home semi-final against Melbourne Victory next weekend.
Stenta on the performance and his defensive unit…
“Yeah, it was a challenging game, probably not our best, but we were really resilient and defended really well. Even though we gave up a lot of shots to Western, I didn’t feel like many of them were clear chances. We defended our box superbly, were great from set pieces, and could have easily had a couple more goals ourselves in the first half, which might have changed the game earlier. Special mention to Tiarna Karambasis coming in for only her second start, filling big shoes with Zoe Tolland missing. Then you look at what Matilda McNamara and Ella Tonkin produced again — I think the national team selectors should be taking note. I’m just very proud of how the backline stood up under pressure.”
Stenta on what the win says about the squad’s mentality…
“It just shows the mentality we’ve worked so hard to build this year. It doesn’t matter if we’re not at our best, we still find a way. We’ve only lost two games in about four months, and that says a lot about this group. We knew Western would try to shut down our transitional moments after halftime, and while our decision-making and execution were a little off at times — maybe nerves, maybe the occasion — the players just dug in. That’s what finals football is all about. And when you consider we’re still managing minutes for players like Erin Healy and Chelsie Dawber, it gives me even more confidence we can lift to another level again next week.”
Stenta on the growth of the team from last season…
“Absolutely, this is vindication. Last season hurt us badly, but so many of the players and staff stuck together. That says a lot about the culture we’ve built. We made some smart recruitment decisions, improved our off-field program, and tightened up a few little details. High performance sport is about fine margins, and this season has shown that if you stay united, you can turn things around quickly. I’m just really proud of the character and resilience of everyone involved. We know the job’s not done yet — but we’re giving ourselves every chance to make this a special season.”
Stenta on the atmosphere at Coopers Stadium and the message to fans…
“The crowd tonight was fantastic — over 3,000 people, a real lift for the team. We felt them behind us, especially when we needed a bit of energy in the second half. My message is simple: can we double it next week? We want to break records. We want as many people here as possible against Melbourne Victory. This is a team worth getting behind — a team that represents the best of South Australian football. Hopefully everyone who came tonight brings a friend next week, and we can create an atmosphere that pushes us even further.”
Stenta on the emotional milestones for Dylan Holmes and Isabel Hodgson…
“I’m super proud of both Dylan and Izzy. They epitomise everything this club stands for. For them to both hit 100 games within a week, around a historic finals win — it’s special. They lead from the front, they live and breathe what Adelaide United is about, and I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Stenta on his own reflections and the work behind the scenes…
“I try not to make it about myself, but obviously I’m proud. This is my job, it’s full-time for me, but a lot of my staff aren’t full-time. They put in huge hours, across multiple programs, and they are outstanding. Recruitment, culture, the improvements off-field — that’s a full team effort. I’m grateful the club stuck by me and by a core group of players who have been through highs and lows. I genuinely feel we’re not just set up for success this year, but we’ve built something sustainable beyond this season too. We’ll try and keep as much of this group together as we can, because they’re a special bunch.”
