News
Gold Coast shattered as Sydney steal the points
Mon Jan 23 2012Karel Kisel levelled the scores after Ben Halloran had given Miron Bleiberg’s men the lead ten minutes into the second half, and it was Kisel who set up the winner by providing the cross that was emphatically headed home by Cazarine to break United’s hearts.
Gold Coast still have much to be proud of though after a sterling effort from one of the youngest line-ups ever seen in the Hyundai A-League.
Miron Bleiberg was already without the services of target man Dylan Macallister (hamstring) and midfielder Paul Beekmans, so the news that Dutch striker Maceo Rigters had succumbed to an ankle knock was hardly music to the United coach’s ears.
It meant that Gold Coast started with a young forward line as Chris Harold filled in for Rigters, flanked by Ben Halloran and Mitch Bevan with James Brown reverting to a deeper midfield role.
On the bench for United was local youngster Chris Lucas, who 12 months ago was learning his trade in the local competition before earning a National Youth League contract with Gold Coast.
United had an early scare when Brett Emerton’s first-minute free-kick rebounded off the post but the follow up header from Terry Antonis was saved comfortably by Jerrad Tyson.
Just after the quarter hour it was Gold Coast’s turn to hit the woodwork when Jonas Salley crashed a powerful header against the crossbar with Sydney keeper Liam Reddy beaten.
Sydney were keeping Tyson on his toes with a number of tame efforts and the United custodian came to his side’s rescue twice in the space of two minutes as he kept out efforts from Grant and Kisel.
Eight minutes from the break Bevan limped off and was replaced by another youngster in the shape of Daniel Bowles. In the last action of the half Bowles almost made a dream start when after making space in the box he fired in a decent effort, forcing Reddy into a smart save at his near post.
After a bright start to the second period United hit the front in the 55th minute. A super run from Peter Jungschlager down the right started the move and the Dutchman’s brilliantly weighted cross to the far post was met by the unmarked Halloran. Although his contact on the ball may not have been what he would have liked, his strike was powerful enough to beat Liam Reddy and go in off the post.
Gold Coast defender Ante Rozic had been a rock at the back for his side and came to their rescue again just minutes after the opening goal. As a corner was only half cleared, Nick Carle aimed an early volley that was heading for the goal until Rozic stuck out a boot to somehow deflect the ball over the bar.
But United’s resistance was breached in the 71st minute though when Karel Kisel stole in to get on the end of a long throw and hook the ball past Tyson from close range to make it 1-1.
Gold Coast’s response was to go up the other end and almost restore their lead. It was Halloran again who presented the danger with a blistering 20-metre drive that Reddy did well to punch away.
As disappointed as they would have been with letting their lead slip, United could be forgiven for thinking at least a point was in the bag until Kisel wriggled past Adama Traore and whipped in the telling far post cross for Cazarine to convert.
Gold Coast United:
20.Jerrad Tyson [gk], 3.Michael Thwaite (c), 5.Kristian Rees, 13.Ante Rozic (23.Dylan McGowan 82’), 14.Ben Halloran, 15.Adama Traore, 17.Chris Harold (32.Chris Lucas 81’), 18.James Brown, 22.Peter Jungschlager, 24.Jonas Salley, 29.Mitch Bevan (28.Daniel Bowles 38’).
Unused subs: 40.Chris O’Connor [gk].
Yellow cards: None.
Red cards: None.
Sydney FC:
1. Liam Reddy [gk], 4.Pascal Bosschaart, 5.Michael Beauchamp, 7.Brett Emerton (2.Sebastian Ryall 90+2’), 8.Karol Kisel, 10.Nick Carle (11.Dimitri Petratos75’), 15.Terry McFlynn (c), 17.Terry Antonis (9.Bruno Cazarine 60’), 19.Mark Bridge, 21.Scott Jamieson, 23.Rhyan Grant.
Unused subs: 20.Ivan Necevski [gk].
Yellow cards: Emerton 64’, Grant 72’, Petratos 84’
Red cards: None.
SYDNEY FC 2 (Kisel 71’, Cazarine 89’)
GOLD COAST UNITED 1 (Halloran 55’)
HT: 0-0
Referee: Strebre Delovski
