Adelaide United claimed their first win of the Ninja A-League season with a 2–1 comeback victory over Canberra United at ServiceFM Stadium. Goals from Matilda McNamara and Emily Condon secured the Reds’ first three points of the campaign – and marked Theo Tsiounis’ first win as Adelaide United Head Coach.
Tsiounis on earning his first win…
“It was good. I think it was not the best start from us – going behind early was unfortunate – but the girls showed so much character and resilience to bounce back from that moment. That’s probably the most pleasing thing. Three points were very important at this stage of the season, just to get us back on track and increase that belief that we’re on the right path.”
Tsiounis on responding to an early setback…
“We talk about this all the time. Before training, after training – resilience is one of the key characteristics we expect in all our players. The girls have demonstrated that in every game so far. Their never-die attitude, the way they fought until the very end, that’s a big part of our culture on and off the field. It’s really important that we showed that tonight.”
Tsiounis on managing the final minutes…
“Canberra are a good side and always dangerous with Michelle [Heyman] up top, especially with the deliveries they put into the area. It was a great experience for our girls to manage the game under pressure. Holding onto a lead in those moments isn’t easy. We’ll take a lot away from that – if we’re in the same situation again, this is how we deal with it. The girls tried to kill the game at certain moments and transition quickly when Canberra were throwing numbers forward. They handled the situation well.”
Tsiounis on standout performances from Adriana Taranto and Emily Condon…
“Quality people, quality players. We’re fortunate to have many of them. I know I always speak about the collective, but tonight Adriana and Emily were exceptional. They were everywhere, they played with real purpose, and they were driving the team forward. But again, they play their part within the team – every player did their job, and that’s what made the difference.”
Tsiounis on the impact of substitutes…
“All the girls played their part. Chelsie and Fiona came on late in the second half and gave us great energy. Paige as well – they all contributed exactly what we needed. We’re in a good position moving forward because of that depth. The key is to keep building and keep following our processes. When we do that, the outcomes will follow.”
Tsiounis on the home crowd’s influence…
“Amazing. You can always hear them. They play such an important role, especially when the girls are tired. We talk about having 40% left – and the crowd helps bring out that final 40% that’s still inside the players. If we can keep building that as a club and get more people behind the team, it will take us a long way. The girls really felt the support tonight.”
Tsiounis on Dylan Holmes’ injury…
“We’ll find out more on Saturday, but at the moment we’re not sure. Dylan is a leader – she always puts her body on the line for the team. It was unfortunate the situation came about, but she wouldn’t do it any other way. The positive thing is we’ve got a couple of weeks before our next game, so hopefully it’s something we can get on top of early.”
Tsiounis on earning his first win as Reds coach…
“It feels fantastic. To walk out and put on a display for the fans, for the people who love the club and believe in the players – that’s why we all do this. Hopefully everyone enjoyed it and goes home with a smile on their face. And hopefully we see them back here again next time.”
