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<\/a><\/p>\nWhile the result was secondary, the evening provided valuable minutes for Airton Andrioli\u2019s squad, with a more experienced line-up taking the field in the opening half before a youthful group continued the work after the break.<\/p>\n
For Andrioli, simply getting back out onto the pitch was the biggest positive.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s good to be back,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had our first week back on the training track last week and the boys have been training really well.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cBut at this time of the year you\u2019re looking for matches, so it\u2019s great to come back down to Cove again. We\u2019ve been doing this for the last few years and it was fantastic to see so many people here tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fixture has become a regular feature of Adelaide United\u2019s pre-season, giving supporters the opportunity to get up close with the squad while strengthening the Club\u2019s connection with the South Australian football community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was great to engage with the community and continue building throughout this pre-season,\u201d Andrioli said. \u201cWe\u2019re a people\u2019s club and we want to stay close to our local clubs and the football community across Adelaide.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very important that we continue doing nights like this.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the Australia Cup tie against South Melbourne and an AFC Champions League Elite Play-Off against Vietnamese champions C\u00f4ng an H\u00e0 N\u1ed9i FC looming on 11th August, every minute on the pitch is crucial.<\/p>\n
Rather than focusing on results, Andrioli said the priority is building match fitness and sharpening the squad ahead of a busy start to the campaign.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about getting the feeling for a match again,\u201d he said. \u201cWe had an internal game last week, but playing against different opposition is always different.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re continuing our preparation for the first Australia Cup game, which is coming up quickly, so it\u2019s about getting the legs moving again, getting the body used to match conditions and continuing to build.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Reds will continue that preparation with another community fixture against Playford next week before turning their attention to competitive football.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s day by day and week by week,\u201d Andrioli said. \u201cThe players came back in excellent condition and they\u2019re excited.<\/p>\n
“We’ve built ourselves a really good foundation” \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n
Craig Goodwin says the Reds are well placed to build on last season’s progress after returning for the opening days of pre-season this week.<\/p>\n
Details \u2192 https:\/\/t.co\/LFU5MpoV1K<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/kOTxlvaHIu<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) July 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll continue building our fitness and use these matches to consolidate the way we want to play before the season begins.\u201d<\/p>\n With pre-season now underway and competitive fixtures fast approaching, the Reds\u2019 journey towards another exciting campaign has officially begun. <\/p>\n \t