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At Skilled Park, Gold Coast

GOLD COAST UNITED 5 (Rees 45+1 / 53’, Smeltz [pen] 50’ / 61’ / 77’)
BRISBANE ROAR 1 (McKay 7’)
HT: 1-1
Referee: Strebre Delovski
Crowd: 10,024

Kristian Rees enjoys the adulation of his team-mates after equalising for United

Getty Images / Matt Roberts © Getty Images

A HAT-TRICK for deadly striker Shane Smeltz and a brace for defender Kristian Rees, gave Gold Coast United a hat-trick of wins over neighbours Brisbane Roar, United running out 5-1 victors in the Boxing Day derby at Skilled Park.

United were simply irresistible, producing an outstanding display to thrash their fiercest rivals, despite falling behind in just the 7th minute.

But after drawing level seconds before the half-time break, Gold Coast had Brisbane on the ropes in the second period, returning four unanswered goals as they drove home their dominance.

Despite a solid start by Miron Bleiberg’s men it was Brisbane who drew first blood with their first foray into enemy territory. An unconvincing clearance fell to Brazilian Henrique and although his close-range shot was saved superbly by Vanstrattan, Matt McKay was on hand to drive home the rebound.

There was no shortage of feeling in an entertaining contest, with Rees and Pantelidis both shown yellow cards for their efforts, the latter earning a two-match suspension for his 11th caution of the season.

Gold Coast began to take hold of the game in the closing stages of the first period and almost levelled in the 36th minute. Adama Traore burst into the box and fired in a low cross that was destined for Joel Porter’s boot, but Roar defender Luke DeVere was on hand to clear in the nick of time.

It was double disappointment for United, with Traore rolling his ankle in the process, forcing Miron Bleiberg to replace him with Brazilian wing-back, Anderson.

Michael Thwaite tested McMaster with a firm drive, then Culina did likewise, but when Gold Coast equalised in first half stoppage time it came from an unlikely source.

Jason Culina’s free-kick caused chaos in the Brisbane defence and United centre-back Kristian Rees was first to react, slamming the loose ball gleefully into the back of the net to make it 1-1 at the break.

Their tails up, United started the second half brightly and soon hit the front after a classy move involving Thwaite, Porter, Caravella and Culina, culminated in Porter being felled in the box. Referee Strebre Delovski pointed straight to the penalty spot and master-finisher Shane Smeltz duly drilled the ball home.

Three minutes later a rampant Gold Coast extended their lead thanks to a second from defender Kristian Rees. Jason Culina was again the provider, his near post corner inviting the big centre-back to attack the ball and Rees made no mistake with a powerful first-time strike.

Just after the hour United made it 4-1. A quick free-kick by Michael Thwaite set Joel Porter free down the right-hand side and his pin-point cross was met by the head of Smeltz, who registered his 17th goal of the season and his 6th in his last four games.

Just minutes later Smeltz should have secured his hat-trick when Culina’s jet-heeled burst down the right ended with another fine centre, but this time Smeltz failed to make decent contact on the ball and McMaster saved.

But with 13 minutes to go Smeltz did secure his treble after a glorious move by the home side. Rees, Anderson and Culina combined before Caravella brilliantly fashioned a cross for Smeltz, who had the easiest of tap-ins and made it 5-1 to Gold Coast.

As the clock ticked down Culina almost topped a dominant performance with a goal, his 30-metre half volley whistling just over the bar.

“We showed character to come back from a goal down and once we scored the second goal we played very well,” said United Head Coach, Miron Bleiberg.

“There were some very good individual performances out there and it was a very good team performance. I thought we deserved the win and it was a very good three points for us.”

Gold Coast United:
1.Jess VANSTRATTAN (gk), 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 14.Joel PORTER (15.Tahj MINNIECON 69’), 16.Kristian REES, 22.Adama TRAORE (24.ANDERSON 38’), 34.Charlie MILLER (23.Steve FITZSIMMONS 63’).
Unused subs: 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk].
Yellow cards: Rees 23’, Pantelidis 25’.
Red cards: none.

Brisbane Roar:
20.Griffin McMASTER (gk), 3.Luke DEVERE, 4.Craig MOORE (c), 7.Michael ZULLO, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 9.Sergio VAN DIJK, 13.HENRIQUE, 14.Adam SAROTA (11.REINALDO 55’), 15.Matt McKAY (5.Josh McCLOUGHAN 82’), 21.Tommy OAR (18.Danny TIATTO 72’), 22.Ivan FRANJIC.
Unused subs: 1.Matt HAM (gk).
Yellow cards: Moore 88’.
Red cards: none.