Given their history when it comes to A-League Women’s finals, you could forgive Adelaide for getting a sense of foreboding from their 1-0 loss to Perth.
The Reds were left fuming after Fiona Worts’ 12th-minute equaliser against the Glory at Gosford on Thursday was chalked off for offside.
Despite Perth being reduced to 10 players in the second half, Adelaide couldn’t break down their stubborn opponents, bringing a three-game winning run to a halt.
The result means Adelaide are now firmly in a three-way race for the last two finals spots – level on points with champions Melbourne Victory and the Glory.
The Reds and Glory have both played 10 matches, with Victory having two games in hand on their rivals.
For a team that missed out on a maiden finals appearance last season on goal difference, it’s a situation that threatens to bring up some bad memories.
“Our motto here is just always trying to be better today than we were yesterday and better tomorrow again,” Reds coach Adrian Stenta told AAP.
“We can’t really afford to dwell on what’s been because our focus is very much on improving day-by-day.
“That will continue to be our focus moving forward and wherever we finish up at the end of the year will be deserved.”
Despite the result and his disappointment at the decision to disallow Worts’ goal, Stenta’s attentions are now on getting his team’s finals tilt back on track against Brisbane at Moreton Daily Stadium on Sunday.
The seventh-placed Roar are essentially out of the finals race after back-to-back defeats to Melbourne City and Sydney FC but Stenta doesn’t feel that makes them any less dangerous as an opponent.
“Brisbane, I think, are a much better side than their ladder position shows,” he said.
“We’ll go in there and try and give it our best shot, try and come away from the game with something.”
The Roar will use Sunday’s match to honour Swedish-bound midfielder Katrina Gorry after her 100th ALW appearance in January, with captain Ayesha Norrie (ankle) a chance to return while American Cannon Clough is fit after suffering concussion in the 2-1 loss to City last month.
