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| Gold Coast United celebrate Maceo Rigters' opener Photo: FFA website |
Gold Coast United
have held Melbourne Victory to a 1-1 draw at Skilled Park on Saturday night in
torrential conditions.
In a slow opening 15 minutes Ben Halloran came off injured
with a hip complaint after colliding with Mark Milligan.
On 22 minutes Archie Thompson dribbled into the box but was
pushed out wide by Kristian Rees and Zac Anderson before the Socceroo’s effort
was blocked.
Two minutes later Carlos Hernandez’s shot was driven just
wide of the upright.
Gold Coast United went immediately up the other end and
Maceo Rigters got on the end of the long ball before chipping with the outside
of his foot. But the Dutchman’s effort bounced just wide.
On 32 minutes Harry Kewell tested Jerrad Tyson from distance
with a curling effort but the 20-year-old ‘keeper made a great save.
Just before the break Anderson had a great chance to open
the scoring but miss-headed his header when free inside the box.
Early into the second-half both sides had chances. First
Hernandez played in Thompson but the Socceroo hit straight at Tyson.
Next Jake Barker-Daish tested Ante Covic but the former Socceroo
‘keeper saved low to his right.
Seconds later Gold Coast took the lead. Barker-Daish cut the
ball back for Rigters whose low finish come off Covic’s foot before flying into
the net.
But only a couple minutes later Hernandez equalised for
Victory. Thompson controlled the ball before passing out to Hernandez whose
powerful drive nestled into the bottom corner.
Hernandez was looking for a second to give his side the lead
but curled his effort over the bar.
Kewell was next to test Tyson twice but the Socceroo’s efforts
were hit wide of the upright.
Kewell was causing havoc on the left and cut in next but his
effort was hit into and deflected by his own teammate, Thompson.
After Thompson was fouled, Hernandez stepped up for a
free-kick but his curling effort had no power behind it which Tyson saved
comfortably.
With ten minutes left Hernandez played in Thompson but
Thompsons’s effort was fantastically saved by Tyson before Anderson cleared off
the line.
With two minutes left Isaka Cernak made a great run into the
box but his low cross went agonisingly close to being poked home by follow
second-half substitute Jean-Carlos Solorzano.
With only seconds left Hernandez was looking for a winner
with the last kick of the ball but Hernandez fired well wide.
Victory’s finals hopes have been dealt a massive blow with
this defeat in a must win game. Gold
Coast United showed that their youngsters are good young players and all should
have futures somewhere in the A-League.
Piece also here
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