Captain Eugene Galekovic is keeping hold that all is not yet lost for the Reds’ chances of making the top six.
The light at the end of the tunnel may have crept further into the distance in regards to Adelaide United-s chances of reaching the Hyundai A-League finals, but captain Eugene Galekovic is keeping hold that all is not yet lost.
The Reds- inspirational, passionate goalkeeper, whose on field demeanour clearly highlights how much he hates to lose, was again left to contemplate another home defeat following yesterday-s loss to Sydney FC and wonder what might have been.
With the chance to close to within two points of the all important top six if they could overcome the Sky Blues, the Reds were again left to rue missed opportunities and a couple of defensive lapses.
Yesterday-s 2-1 result, which saw Sydney FC come out in front despite the Reds creating a host of second half opportunities, was certainly not for lack of effort or willingness from a United side backing up after an ACL Play-Off three days earlier, but Galekovic knows it comes to nothing if there are not three points to go with it.
“It-s very frustrating. The result was what mattered yesterday and we didn-t get it,” Galekovic said.
“Our football in the second half was great, we could have won the game, but our first half wasn-t good enough and we were one-nil down, so it was just not good enough on the day.”
“I-d rather play rubbish football and win the game and get those three points rather than play like we did in the second half yesterday and lose.”
The consequence of a third straight home defeat is that the Reds now sit seven points from Sydney FC, who occupy sixth spot, with five games remaining.
This leaves a maximum of 15 points still on offer, and while United could possibly be forgiven for putting one eye on the club-s upcoming AFC Champions League campaign, Galekovic remains solely focused on the domestic scene and believes a late Reds surge on the run into the finals is not out of the question.
United-s run in starts with a trip to Newcastle to face the Jets on Friday night, and with Perth at home followed by Brisbane and the Central Coast away before hosting Melbourne Heart on the final weekend of the season, the Reds must start their points grab now.
“Mathematically we-re still there. When that-s over we-ll give up and worry about the AFC Champions League, but we want to pick up as many points as we can and there-s another three points at stake on Friday night,” Galekovic said.
“We definitely need four wins out of the last five games, but if we can get five we-ll definitely be there, so it-s going to be hard, we know that, and every week it is made harder because we-re not picking up points.”
“But we still believe and on Friday night there are another three points and if we get those, then it is three wins in four that we-ll need.”
