Adelaide United’s young guns had Westfield W-League Champions Sydney FC rocked but the Reds did everything but score in the 1-0 loss, says head coach Ivan Karlovic.
The hosts, who started the match with an average age of only 20.7 years, caused chaos in the Sky Blues defence throughout the contest at Marden Sports Complex but could not beat American keeper Aubrey Bledsoe.
The big-game experience of the visitors shone through in the second-half when Caitlin Foord made Adelaide pay the price with a 56th-minute winner.
Sydney controlled 59% of possession but Adelaide carved out chance after chance on the break, dominating the shot count 17 to 12 without finding a way through.
“I think we created enough chances to win two games of football,” Karlovic told adelaideunited.com.au
“I couldn’t be prouder of the girls we just need to make sure we’re taking our opportunities it’s as simple as that.”
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American winger Mallory Weber starred for the home side and provided a spark on the left, raining in a team-high six shots at the Sydney goal.
Right-sided attacker Isabel Hodgson had the best chances of a closely-fought first stanza, firing a one-on-one straight at Bledsoe and rattling the crossbar on the stroke of half-time.
After Foord broke the deadlock, Sydney almost doubled the lead when Princess Ibini’s shot crashed back off the Reds’ post, before teen striker Mary Fowler spurned a golden chance to equalise late on.
Brazilian playmaker Lais showed glimpses of her talent on her Westfield W-League starting debut, while Georgia Campagnale impressed from the bench.
Adelaide are yet to get off the mark in two matches this season but, following an attacking performance filled with energy and verve, Karlovic is confident their efforts will soon convert into points.
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Adelaide's shot map from the 1-0 defeat against Sydney FC
“I’m not one to say it’s unlucky because you create your own luck,” Karlovic said.
“We just need to get better in certain areas and [on Friday] that was just finishing because I thought we did everything well.
“The most difficult thing is to create opportunities, I think we created a number of opportunities and should’ve been comfortably in the lead at half-time.
“So we need to continue to work on that, improve on that.
“But like I said to the girls at the end of the game, if you play like that on a regular basis I think you’re going to win more games than you won’t.”
Adelaide United travel to face Melbourne City in Round 3 on Saturday, 30 November at John McEwan Reserve. Kick-off is at 7pm AEDT. Find more info at the Match Centre
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