Matilda McNamara is calling on the South Australian football community to turn Coopers Stadium red this Sunday as they prepare to face Melbourne Victory in the most significant match in the Club’s history.
Fresh off a 1-0 win over Western United — their first-ever finals victory — the Reds are now just two matches away from the Ninja A-League Women Grand Final, and they’ll need every bit of home support to take the next step.
Matilda McNamara, a key figure in the team’s leadership group, scored the winner in last weekend’s elimination final and said the moment was incredibly special — both personally and for the team.
“Yeah, it felt really special,” McNamara said. “It was my first goal of the year, so it was a long time coming. But we really had to defend for our lives at the end. I think we toughed it out, and we deserve to be in the semi-final.”
Having gone toe-to-toe with Melbourne Victory twice this season — only to concede late in both games — McNamara believes Adelaide United’s best is good enough to get the job done.
“We just have to be at our best to beat them. But I really think our best is enough to win this game,” she said. “It feels like when teams play us now, they lift to another gear — and that’s a credit to how far we’ve come.”
Head Coach Adrian Stenta is confident his side is ready — not only physically, but mentally — to rise to the occasion in front of a passionate home crowd.
“Preparations have been great,” Stenta said. “The players are in a great position to perform, and hopefully a really big crowd comes out and supports us.”
Stenta praised the team’s growth throughout the Ninja A-League Women season and credited their rise to nothing more than grit and determination.
“It comes down to hard work,” he said. “The players were disappointed last year, and they came back with a mindset to make sure that never happens again. There are no secrets — they’ve done the work, and now they’re getting the rewards.”
When asked how his squad overcame the psychological hurdle of facing traditionally dominant teams like Victory and City, Stenta was clear.
“I haven’t had to say much. There’s been three clear teams this season, and we’re one of them. We belong in that conversation.”
McNamara echoed Stenta’s sentiment, saying the culture within the squad has been a defining factor in their success.
“Everyone loves being here. It’s the highlight of our days,” she said. “That shows on the pitch — in how we play, and in the relationships we have as a team.”
Stenta also confirmed attacking options Chelsie Dawber and Erin Healy are available, giving Adelaide plenty of firepower to match Victory’s strong defence.
“They’re both fit and ready to go,” he said. “That gives us plenty of options, and plenty of headaches for Victory to deal with.”
With a place in the Ninja A-League Women’s Grand Final on the line, both coach and leadership figures like McNamara are urging South Australians to be part of this historic moment.
“We’re proud of this team. We deserve to be playing at home, and we deserve to be supported,” Stenta said.
McNamara added, “We want to show up for our fans, and we want them to show up for us. This is the biggest game in our history — let’s fill Coopers.”
Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory
📅 Sunday, 4 May 2025
🕞 3:30pm kick-off
🏟️ Coopers Stadium
🎟️ Tickets on sale now via Ticketek
