Following Adelaide United’s best result of the season, Coach John Kosmina could not compliment Reds fans enough for their contribution on Friday night, and has challenged them to repeat the dose against Wellington on Sunday.
Following Adelaide United-s best result of the season, Coach John Kosmina could not compliment Reds fans enough for their contribution on Friday night, and has challenged them to repeat the dose against Wellington on Sunday.
A crowd of over 14,000 packed into Hindmarsh on Friday for the Reds- first home game against Melbourne Victory since the Victorians last came to Adelaide back in October last year.
The continued heated rivalry between the clubs, coupled with the return of former United crowd favourite Marcos Flores in a Victory shirt, always meant the noise and the atmosphere was going to be something special.
But few would have imagined the energy and buzz around the stadium would be quite as electric as it was, the United faithful making their voices heard.
Of the 14 Adelaide United players that took to the field on Friday night, five had yet to play in a home game against Melbourne Victory. For the Reds- new foreigners in particular – Marcelo Carrusca, Fabio Ferreira and Jeronimo Neumann, the noise level and crowd reaction gave them a quick realisation what this fixture means to the South Australian sporting public.
Still somewhat in admiration of the immensity of the home crowd, Kosmina admitted it had turned back the clock for him and taken him back to some big games back in the club-s early days in the Hyundai A-League.
As well as a touch of nostalgia, what Kosmina experienced on Friday night also has him excited about the atmosphere that he witnessed and now he has laid down the challenge for supporters to back it up again on Sunday and for the remainder of the season, regardless of the opponent that comes to Hindmarsh.
“It was fantastic. That was a step back in time, it was really great and there-s no reason that the punters can-t come and support us against Wellington on Sunday…and it-s not about Wellington, it-s about Adelaide United and they need to turn up and support us,” Kosmina said.
“Ross Aloisi used to say in the first couple of years in the A-League that it (the home crowd) was our 12th man…and it is.”
“Last night they were phenomenal, and you need that kind of support. It-s great for the players because they get a buzz out of it, it pumps the adrenalin.”
In his post match media conference, the Reds boss was asked how the club would ensure the people would come back through the turnstiles for the clash with the Phoenix. Kosmina-s answer was simple.
“Why wouldn-t they (the fans) turn up next week? Just because it-s Wellington, so what,” Kosmina said.
“What they saw tonight, they saw quality. They saw Marcelo Carrusca score a goal like that, they saw Fabio Ferreira rip down the line, cut across the goal line and set the first one up, they saw him finish with the outside of his foot, so why wouldn-t they come back?”
“They come here to see football, they come here to see the opposition and they come here to see us play and that-s what we-ve got to keep in mind.”
“Tonight was maybe a bit more special because it was Melbourne and there is that angst, but they need to come back next week and we need them to come back.”
After a match day experience like last Friday, there-s every chance that they will. Kick-Off is at 4.30pm and tickets are available through Ticketek.
