Adelaide United’s strong start to the season continued on Friday night, with the Reds remaining unbeaten after a thrilling 3-3 draw. While the result may feel disappointing, there are plenty of positives to take from an excellent 88-minute performance that was undone by a late lapse in concentration. Despite the frustration, Coach Carl Veart remains optimistic, viewing the setback as a valuable learning experience for the team’s future success.
“Our intent was excellent,” Veart said. “We played some really good football, got through their pressure because they pressed well, and our energy and pressure on them forced a lot of turnovers.” United were on course for another three points, leading 3-1 deep into the second half after goals from Stefan Mauk and a double from the in-form Archie Goodwin. But a pair of late goals, with Brazilian star Douglas Costa at the heart of it, put a bitter end to a crazy night at Hindmarsh.
The Reds created several chances throughout the game, and while they couldn’t capitalize on all of them, Veart was encouraged by the attacking intent. “We had some great opportunities,” he said. “Yaya had three or four really good actions, and Zach and Isais would have wanted to hit the target with their good chances, but we just didn’t finish those. If we put those away, the game’s done.”
Conceding two late goals, especially after such a strong performance, was disappointing, but Veart believes that this could be a crucial moment for the team’s growth. “We have to be better at closing these games out. We can’t allow that to happen again,” he admitted. “We sort of dropped off and tried to protect the lead instead of pushing forward, and that’s something we need to improve. Those late goals were preventable if we were a little better defensively.”
The late collapse, while frustrating, could ultimately serve as a turning point for the team’s mentality. “It’s the small details that cost you in the end, and we have to keep working on them. We need to be better as a defensive unit, and we have to manage those final minutes with more maturity.” Despite this, Veart emphasised the positives, particularly how his team dominated much of the contest.
“This was a test for us, and up until the 88th minute, we passed it. Yes, the last few minutes hurt, but I’m confident the players will use that pain to drive themselves forward and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Veart said.
Adelaide United’s unbeaten streak remains intact. While they’ve dropped points from winning positions in back-to-back home games, the foundation is in place for a strong season. “We’ve worked extremely hard this preseason, and we’ve brought in some great quality to the squad,” Veart explained. “There’s a belief in the group now. But we still have a long way to go. Nights like this, while painful, are part of that journey.”
The next challenge for the Reds comes when Western Sydney visits on the 27th for a second helping of festive football. “We’ll take a lot out of tonight’s game,” Veart concluded. “We’re building something here, and this is just another step in that process.”
