Ivan Karlović lamented Adelaide United Women’s lack of fluidity in the final third following their 3-0 loss to Melbourne Victory Women.
The Reds never really got going and struggled early to get into the Round 10 clash at Marden Sports Complex on Saturday night.
Karlović felt his side awarded Victory too much respect and they duly capitalised with their first shot on target through Natasha Dowie’s 17th minute opener.
He added that their lack of cohesion and poise in advanced areas needed improvement.
“I thought we started slowly and gave them too much respect early on in the game,” he said after the match.
“We were sitting too deep and conceded a scrappy goal.
“And I thought from that point we started to play a little bit more in the first-half.
“We got the ball into good areas, but our quality and decision-making and execution at those times wasn’t good enough.
“Across the majority of the game that was the telling factor.”
Adelaide then conceded two goals in quick succession with less than 15 minutes remaining to quash any chance of an equaliser.
Rosie Sutton made it 2-0 on 78 minutes and three minutes later Dowie grabbed her second with another neat finish.
Coming into this weekend’s clash, Adelaide did have the week off after their Round 9 match with Newcastle Jets Women was postponed due to the heat and poor air quality from nearby bushfires.
Karlović dismissed suggestions that not having a game last week contributed to their sluggish performance and eventual loss, citing Victory also had a bye.
“Both teams didn’t play last week so you can’t read into it,” he believed.
“They had the bye. No one ever knows the right answer to that one.
“The girls were well-prepared for the game it’s just you fail to execute at the right times, you don’t get success simple as that.”
Adelaide United Women host Western Sydney Wanderers Women in Round 11 of the Westfield W-League 2019/20 season on Saturday, 25 January at Marden Sports Complex. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACDT. Gates open at 6.00pm.
