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Close, but no cigar for United

After a lacklustre first half performance in which they fell behind to a Kristian Sarkies free-kick after only eight minutes, Gold Coast came out firing after the restart and had Heart camped in their own half.

Only the woodwork and the brilliance of Heart gloveman Clint Bolton prevented United from taking all three points, with Paul Beekmans twice hitting the post in the second period and Kristian Rees once in the first.

Bolton was at his best as Gold Coast forced the issue either side of their equaliser, with Chris Harold, Peter Jungschlager and Adama Traore all watching in frustration as the Heart keeper defied them time after time.

Just as they did the last time the two teams met, Heart took an early lead with the first genuine attempt at goal of the game. Michael Thwaite was penalised for a foul on the edge of the box and when Sarkies drilled the resulting free-kick towards goal, a deflection off James Brown deceived Jerrad Tyson and sent the ball flying into the net.

The visitors lost their captain and talisman Fred just before the break and within minutes Gold Coast almost levelled. Paul Beekmans’ cross into a crowded penalty area was met forcefully by Kristian Rees but thumped against the base of the post. When the rebound presented itself the off-balance defender could only apply a swinging leg the ball and Bolton was able to block.

Bolton was called into action again soon afterwards when he palmed away Brown’s 20-metre shot, but despite a major improvement towards the end of the half United went in one down at the break.

Adama Traore started the second half brightly after being pushed further forward and his twisting run and cross was almost turned into his own net by Eli Babalj as the big forward attempted to clear.

Gold Coast were piling on the pressure and it seemed only a matter of time before they were rewarded, and so it proved as the equaliser duly arrived on 72 minutes. Traore’s cross from the left was side-footed back towards goal by Rees at the far post and Rigters was on hand to divert the ball into the net with a deft back-heel.

The goal sparked an amazing phase of the game with United creating a host of chances in the minutes that followed. Paul Beekmans thundered a 25-metre volley that beat Bolton but struck the inside of the post before running across the goal-line and agonisingly disappearing to safety.

Then moments later Traore’s rasping drive was well saved by Bolton and the keeper then denied Brown within 60 seconds as Gold Coast went hell for leather for the winner.

Amazingly, Beekmans was again denied by the post in the 79^th minute, this time with a header, then Jungschlager gave Bolton more work with a fine drive from the edge of the box.

United Head Coach was left frustrated on two counts, but still found praise for his troops who made a mockery of their current league position.

“I wasn’t happy with us in the first half, but after I told them what I thought at the break and we made a few adjustments we did a lot better,” Bleiberg said.

“It would have been tough for anyone to tell who was at the bottom of the ladder and who was at the top in that game. We really went for it in the second half and with a bit of luck it would have gone our way,” he added.

Gold Coast United:

20.Jerrad Tyson [gk], 3.Michael Thwaite (c), 5.Kristian Rees, 6.Paul Beekmans, 12.Dylan Macallister, 13.Ante Rozic, 14.Ben Halloran, 15.Adama Traore, 16.Maceo Rigters (7.Golgol Mebrahtu 87’), 18.James Brown, 22.Peter Jungschlager, , 24.Jonas Salley (17.Chris Harold 65’).

Unused subs: 40.Chris O’Connor [gk], 23.Dylan McGowan.

Yellow cards: Jungschlager 43’.

Red cards: None.

Melbourne Heart:

1.Clint Bolton [gk], 2.Michael Marrone, 3.Brendan Hamill, 5. Fred (c) (17.Jason Hoffman 39’), 6.Matt Thompson, 7.Rutger Worm (15.David Williams 62’), 8.Kristian Sarkies, 16.Aziz Behich, 18.Curtis Good, 19.Eli Babalj, 23.Mate Dugandzic (11.Alex Terra 70’).
Unused subs:  30.Sebastian Mattei [gk].

Yellow cards: Hammill 19’, Fred 25’, Bolton 80’, Sarkies 90+2’.

Red cards: None.

Hyundai A-League Week 14

At Skilled Park, Gold Coast

GOLD COAST UNITED 1 (Rigters 72’)

MELBOURNE HEART 1 (Sarkies 8’)

HT: 0-1

Referee: Matt Gillett