Reds Head Coach Adrian Stenta shared his thoughts after a dramatic 3-2 victory over Sydney FC on Friday night. The win marked Adelaide United’s first-ever victory in Sydney and set a new ALW club record for games unbeaten. Stenta reflected on the rollercoaster emotions of the match, the team’s resilience, and the challenges ahead. Here’s what Stenta had to say:
Stenta on the dramatic nature of the win…
“Yeah, rollercoaster of emotions, because I thought we were comfortable for a long period of time in the game and just dealing with the threat on the counter. Then, we dropped off a bit after the first 15-20 minutes of the second half, and that allowed Sydney to get back into the game, put some pressure on us, and get the crowd back into it. I haven’t seen the stats, but I’m pretty sure it was a pretty even game, with possession and shots probably 50/50. We were just able to dig deep and get a winner at the end, which is fantastic. It just shows how resilient our group is.”
Stenta on Chelsie Dawber’s thrilling winning goal…
“Yeah, it was fantastic. We had a fantastic strike last week that helped us get a point, and another one today. Even Emily Condon, to pop up after not playing last week and not being 100%, to score two goals was fantastic. We’re really excited about our attacking players. We’ve still got Fiona to come back in as well. When we’re in full flight, I think we’re a dangerous proposition for anyone.”
Stenta on the significance of the win…
“I don’t really care too much about records and statistics. The team, since I’ve been here, has broken a lot of records, both good and bad. But yeah, it’s fantastic to get a win here. You just have to look at Sydney’s side. They’ve got quality all over the park. I know they’re not where they want to be right now, but they’re a really good team going through a rough patch. I’m just proud that our girls put themselves in a position to win, and we were able to capitalise on that.”
Stenta on the club’s new unbeaten run record…
“Yeah, really proud. I can’t even remember the last time we lost, so hopefully it stays that way! It’s a testament to the consistency and determination of the squad. We just need to keep pushing forward and focus on what’s next.”
Stenta on the emotional ups and downs of the match…
“I’m not the kind of guy that gets too carried away when we’re doing well or too low when things aren’t going well. I’m pretty level-headed. It’ll probably take a little while for everything to sink in. But I’m just glad we showed a bit of fight and character. This team can win against anyone, anywhere, at any time.”
Stenta on Emily Condon’s performance…
“Emily’s phenomenal. I don’t think she was playing at 100% today, but she battled through and probably played 10-15 minutes more than we thought we’d get from her. She’s the heart and soul of our team, and we’re just glad to see her getting back to her best. When she’s not injured, you can see how good she really is.”
Stenta on the squad depth and upcoming player returns…
“It’s going to be difficult to integrate everyone back into the side. We’ve got a lot of good players who will be vying for game time. That’s the pressure we need as a team to keep pushing each other. As a coach, I’ve got faith in every player, and it’s my job to find a way to fit everyone in.”
Stenta on the team’s position in the table…
“We’ll finish the weekend in third place. Two sides ahead of us play tomorrow, but I’m confident we can chase them down. We’re focusing on recovering and preparing for Perth next. They beat us in Perth last time, so we want to set the record straight there. Whatever happens with the table will happen, but we’re concentrating on our own form.”
Stenta on goals for the rest of the season…
“Our goals haven’t changed since the start. Every game, we want to put ourselves in a position where we can get something out of the game. If we do that, then our job is done. Sometimes we’ll win, sometimes we won’t, but we’ll always give ourselves the best chance. And that remains our goal moving forward.”