Head Coach, Ivan Karlovic says his side must have the hunger to win and polish their execution, and believes they will when they take on Western Sydney Wanderers at Marden Sports Complex on Friday night for Round 8 of the Westfield W-League.
Adelaide United will be striving to return to winning ways against the eighth-placed Western Sydney Wanderers as they return to home soil this week.
It will be the second meeting between the two sides, after Western Sydney clinched a 2-1 win at Marconi Stadium in Round 2.
Last match day, the Reds endured a 4-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory, while the Wanderers fell to their cross-town rivals, Sydney FC, 1-3 in the derby.
@AUFCWomen's Grace Abbey goes for ride with @4Ingredients to whip up some pulled pork sliders! The #AUFC Women are at home this Friday night at Marden Sports Complex. #ForeverUnited
🎟 Tickets: https://t.co/Kvlq9VXEdi
Special thanks: @igaAustralia, @UniversitySA, #Plant4Bowden pic.twitter.com/MpfEz6AdDK
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) December 13, 2017
Despite the result, Karlovic noted that it was one of Adelaide’s best performances of the season, but they were unfortunate not to capitalise on chances.
”Strangely enough, the result didn’t reflect the game and it was one that we dominated in terms of possession and opportunities,” Karlovic said.
“We weren’t able to capitalise and were poor in certain moments and got punished for it.
“It was probably one of our best performances of the year and we didn’t get what we deserved out of the game but now we move on and we have to find that hunger and desire to win games.”
Commenting on Adriana Jones, who missed the game last week, Karlovic said that she could have possibly changed the game, but said it is a group effort to collectively improve on scoring goals.
“You always like to have all your players available, and maybe Adriana (Jones) might have capitalised on some opportunities.
“But we created the opportunities, failed to execute and a lot of the times failed to get to that last stage.
“We need to improve, but collectively and as a group we need to execute better and have that desire to want to finish off chances.”
https://twitter.com/AUFCWomen/status/941081150436470784
On facing the Wanderers this week, Karlovic echoed the importance of being hungry in front of goal and their attacking play, while limiting their opponents any chances to score.
“We have to continue to improve, and again, being hungrier to win and that is the bottom-line for me.
“It’s definitely not the football side that is letting us down, it’s the mental side that we need to be focussed for the full 90 minutes.
“We’ll need to make sure that we don’t give away opportunities and at the same time, be hungry and desperate in our own attacking third.”
Adelaide United Women face Western Sydney Wanderers Women at Marden Sports Complex on Friday, 15 December. Kick-off is 7:30pm. All AUFC merchandise will be available at 20% off.
