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Gold Coast back with a bang in Adelaide

Gold Coast dominated the match and took a 2-0 lead before the break, but they had to win it the hard way with the second half loss of goalkeeper Glen Moss to injury and Ante Rozic to a red card threatening to erode their lead.

But substitute custodian Jerrad Tyson pulled off a string of superb saves and United easily catered for the dismissal of Rozic by displaying enough character and organisation to see out the game comfortably.

In fact, they even added to their lead in the final minute to kill off any hope of an Adelaide comeback when Dylan Macallister drilled home from close range and promptly set off on a ‘Spiderman’ celebration devised after he was bitten by a red back spider earlier in the season.

Just as important for Gold Coast was their second clean sheet in a row, showing a defensive resilience that will be vital in the coming weeks.

Miron Bleiberg will also be buoyed by the individual form of his troops. Gold Coast didn’t have a bad player on the pitch and after a bright start they posed an early threat with a powerful run from Rigters culminating in an equally powerful drive that whistled just clear of the crossbar.

Next to try his luck was striker Dylan Macallister whose fine run was picked out by Peter Jungschlager. The big striker bore down on goal only to see his thumping near-post drive palmed away by Adelaide keeper Eugene Galekovic

In between, Nigel Boogaard’s header called Gold Coast custodian Glen Moss into action in one of the few times the visitors’ threatened the United defence that was being superbly marshalled by former Adelaide man Kristian Rees.

Gold Coast took the lead on 19 minutes when a lovely ball down the line to Halloran from Kristian Rees started a quick attack and from there the young winger made the goal.

 First, his tricky play held off the home defence as he plotted a neat pass to the incoming James Brown whose shot was smothered by a desperate tackle. Then as the rebound presented the ball to him again, Halloran weaved the opening for a shot through a bank of Reds defenders and the ball ended up in the back of the net via a heavy deflection off Usucar.

Nine minutes from half-time Gold Coast doubled their lead with Halloran again the architect. Advancing into the box with little support, Halloran intelligently held the ball long enough to lay off to Maceo Rigters on the edge of the penalty area. Rigters had looked dangerous from the off and after taking one touch to steady himself the Dutch striker unleashed an unstoppable 20-metre thunderbolt that flew past the static Galekovic.

Looking comfortable and good value for their lead, Gold Coast were dealt a quick double blow when Glen Moss hobbled off with a groin injury in the 68^th minute, then eight minutes later Ante Rozic’s clumsy foul on van Dijk resulted in a second yellow card and an early shower.

But some heroics from Jerrad Tyson, who denied former Gold Coast striker Bruce Djite on three occasions, and the third goal from Macallister late on, handed the points to United.

The result will inject no end of confidence into Bleiberg’s troops as they prepare for their next match – the Boxing Day Derby against Brisbane Roar at Skilled Park.

Gold Coast United:

1.Glen Moss [gk] (20.Jerrad Tyson [gk] 69’), 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 (23.Dylan McGowan 77’), 18.James Brown (28.Daniel Bowles 90+3’), 22.Peter Jungschlager.

Unused subs:   17.Chris Harold 

Yellow cards: Macallister 43’. Rozic 64’ / 76’, Thwaite 89’.

Red cards: Rozic 76’.

Adelaide United:

1.Eugene Galekovic [gk], 3.Nigel Boogaard, 4.Jon McKain (c), 5.Daniel Mullen (14.Cameron Watson 68’), 7.Zenon Caravella (24.Teeboy Kamara 63’), 9.Sergio van Dijk, 10.Dario Vidosic, 11.Bruce Djite, 17.Iain Ramsay, 18.Fabian Barbiero, 21.Francisco Usucar (16.Spase Dilevski 46’).

Unused subs: 20.Mark Birighitti [gk].
Yellow cards: McKain 35’, Dilevski 73’, Djite 84’.

Red cards: None.

Hyundai A-League Week 11

At Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

ADELAIDE UNITED 0

GOLD COAST UNITED 3 (Halloran 19’, Rigters 36’, Macallister 90+3’)

HT: 0-2

Referee: Ryan Sheppard