Adelaide United Liberty A-League coach Adrian Stenta has lamented his side’s slow start in Friday evening’s 2-1 loss to Central Coast.
The Mariners got the jump at Coopers Stadium and led two-nil within an hour, before a goal by Ella Tonkin with 22 minutes to play made for an exciting finish as the Reds searched for an equaliser.
The result was the Mariners’ first win since returning to the competition this season after a lengthy absence.
After the loss, Stenta said his side didn’t match the intensity of the visitors, and a number of players didn’t play to their usual standards.
But he was positive about the A-League debut of goalkeeper Claudia Jenkins.
Adrian Stenta on what went wrong against the Mariners:
“I just felt like we started slow and it took us too long to be here and play the way that we wanted to play. And so I just felt like we had, across the park, too many players that were a little bit off and when that happens, you can be beaten.
“It’s not that (the players) weren’t ready for the game. I just don’t think we matched what our opposition brought up. Certainly, the first half I thought we were a little bit reactive. And we took a while to sort of stand up and really assert ourselves the way we wanted to win the game.”
Adrian Stenta on what changed in the second half:
“We did try and change a few things because what we we’d set out to do from the start wasn’t quite working the way that we’d planned it to. I don’t think it was anything tactical that was the difference in today’s game. I just think we were second best for probably a good hour in the game. And it took us a while to bring ourselves to the fight.”
Adrian Stenta on how his side stacked up defensively:
“I don’t think the goals that we conceded were because of our defenders around defence, I think it was more about the way that we defended both of those situations collectively as a team wasn’t good enough.”
Adrian Stenta on Claudia Jenkins’ debut:
“It was her first game ever in the league, and she stood up and made a couple of really big saves that kept us in the game and gave us an opportunity towards the end to try and pitch something, so I was pleased with her and she should be proud of her performance.”
Adelaide United’s next ALW home match is on Sunday 19 November at Marden Sports Complex when they take on Sydney FC. Tickets are available here.
