Adelaide United FC overcame its first finals hurdle after disposing of the Wellington Phoenix, but match winner Travis Dodd knows there is still a long way to go.
Dodd nailed home the only goal in a waterlogged elimination final at Hindmarsh Stadium against the Phoenix to keep the Reds- title hopes afloat for at least another week. Having finished third, the Reds went into the match as favourites despite Wellington notching up their first ever win at Hindmarsh Stadium just a fortnight earlier. The pressure and expectation was on the home side to account for the team from across the Tasman, who had enjoyed few favourable results on their travels this season.
But while the Reds had the advantage of playing at home, the strong wind and constant rain prior to kick-off and during the majority of the 90 minutes would have been more familiar to the visitors. While the conditions did not lend themselves to attractive free flowing football, Dodd-s clinical 70th minute strike was enough to ensure Reds fans did not from having to experience the tension of extra time or a penalty shootout.
Dodd, who has now scored the winner two weeks in a row, believes it was a sign of the Reds- character of how they managed to get the job done under the circumstances.
“I think the conditions were suiting Wellington a lot more than us in the first half and there would have been a lot of expectation on us to win this game,” Dodd said.
“It was a very good team performance overall. We didn-t play pretty football but the boys hung in there and it was a well fought deserved win.”
“It-s always great to get on the score sheet but at the end of the day I-ll take a win with anybody scoring.”
After getting the first final out of the way, United now look ahead to hosting another elimination final against either Gold Coast United or Melbourne Victory next weekend. The old adage of taking it ‘one week at a time- is arguably an overused and clichéd saying in professional sport, but Dodd knows there is no other way for the Reds to approach it as each game from here on in could signal the end of their season.
Having been part of Adelaide United-s squad for all six of the Hyundai A-League seasons to date and having been in two losing grand finals, Dodd believes this team has got what it takes to go all the way and bring a first championship to Adelaide. However, he knows if it is to happen, there are some serious challenges ahead.
“I think we-ve shown during the season that we can play some really good football and that we-re capable of beating anybody,” Dodd said.
“So as long as we-ve got that belief, which I think is there at the moment, especially over the last couple of weeks with the results we-ve been getting, I believe this is a team that can go all the way, but we can-t get carried away with ourselves.”
“Yeah we-ve had two good wins on the trot but to win the grand final we need to win three more, so it is going to be very difficult.”
