Adelaide United recorded a statement 3-1 in the Ninja A-League away win over finals contenders Western United on Saturday afternoon, capping off an impressive performance with three high-quality goals.
With finals football already secured, the Reds produced a composed and clinical display in Tarneit, extending their outstanding run of form away from home. Speaking post-match, Head Coach Adrian Stenta praised the consistency and collective mindset of his squad.
Stenta on the immediate reaction from the win in Tarneit…
“I thought it was a fantastic performance that showed the mentality of our team. It’s not about who we play, where we play or what’s at stake; rather we want to put in consistent performances that we can be proud of and always give ourselves an opportunity to get something out of every game. We certainly did that in this game.”
Stenta on Lucía’s brace and playing with freedom…
“Lucía has been absolutely fantastic for us this season, no matter what role we ask of her each week. In this match we asked her to play a little more centrally and support our attacking three, which she did, and you saw the quality she can bring both on the ball and with her finishing. She plays with a smile on her face, which I love, and knows she has the freedom to be creative out on the field. She brings so much joy to our group.”
Stenta on Sarah Morgan’s stunning strike…
“Sarah is another player who just goes about her business with a minimum of fuss, doing whatever she needs to each week for the team. She’s grown a lot this year off the pitch and has worked hard on her mentality and being balanced in all aspects of her life. I’m just so proud of the person and footballer she is becoming, and her goal was brilliant and just reward for all the selfless things she does every week for us.”
Stenta on recording his first win in Victoria as Head Coach…
“I wasn’t aware of that specific stat, but did know we’ve found it difficult to win here in the past. The most important thing about the win is that it gives us confidence to know we can win here, which is what we’ll need to do at some point if we wish to progress as far as we can in the finals series. Our away form this season has been outstanding.”
Stenta on squad depth and beating a finals contender without key players…
“Absolutely! Our squad is very deep and we’ve been having to deal with injuries since Round 1 and haven’t skipped a beat. No matter who plays for us on the weekend, the work is done on the training track, where the environment is super competitive and the level is very high. Every single player on our list is valued and important and has contributed significantly to our success this year.”
