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NYL: Cooper double sweeps Sydney aside

Two goals from Mitch Cooper and one from Tahj Minniecon were more than enough to give Gold Coast a well-deserved three points and make it two wins on the bounce after deposing of the AIS 5-3 last weekend.

Sydney played their part in an entertaining first half, but it was Gold Coast who looked the more dangerous with their swift counter attacks worrying the Sydney rearguard time after time. Happy to absorb pressure when necessary then play their way out of danger, United looked comfortable on the ball and when they broke they did so with real pace and purpose.

It was a tactic that paid off on the quarter hour when Mitch Cooper gave Mike Mulvey’s men the lead, finishing off a super team move.

Zac Anderson began the attack from his own half with a cross-field ball to Sami Tesfagabr, who in turn found Tahj Minniecon moving towards goal. Three defenders failed to dispossess the United striker who was able to slip a clever ball to Daniel Severino on the edge of the box. Still with a lot to do, Severino scooped the ball over Sydney’s central defensive pair for Cooper, who gratefully accepted the invitation to beat sky blues’ keeper Ryan Norval with a cheeky lob.

Jake Barker-Daish was continuing his recent fine form with a commanding display in the United engine room and came as close as anyone to doubling his side’s advantage before the break, his fearsome drive from outside the box rattling the home side’s crossbar.

Just after the break Gold Coast did finally increase their lead thanks to a goal from Tahj Minniecon. Another well-aimed through ball from Severino, which was meant for Cooper, eventually found its way to Minniecon after Cooper miscued. With the Sydney defence at sixes and sevens the United man was left with the easiest of finishes to give his side the breathing space of a 2-0 lead.

Gold Coast keeper Brendan White was called into action to make a flying save from Mallia’s long distance effort as Sydney went in search of a way back into the game.

They found it in the 66th minute with the lively Mallia sending a tempting corner into the box for defender Nathan Sherlock who rose highest to head home and halve the deficit, setting up a rousing finish to what was already a fine game.

But it was Gold Coast who found the net next to wrap up the points with that man Cooper doing the damage once more. Daniel Severino again had a hand in the goal, this time finding Daniel Bragg with a pin-point before the Gold Coast midfielder continued the flowing move by slipping the ball ahead of the onrushing Cooper.

The talented Cooper confidently slid the ball past the Sydney custodian to secure his second brace in as many weeks with a typically calm finish that is rapidly becoming his trademark.

SYDNEY FC YOUTH 1 (Sherlock 66’)

GOLD COAST UNITED YOUTH 3 (Cooper 15’ / 77’, Minniecon 52’)

HT: 0-1