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NYL: United make it five in a row

NYL: United make it five in a row

National Youth League Week 17

At Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide

ADELAIDE UNITED 1 (Kostopoulos)

GOLD COAST UNITED YOUTH 3 (Minniecon 2, Cooper)

HT: 0-0

GOLD Coast United have extended their winning streak to five matches after another impressive comeback win, this time a 3-1 triumph over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Showing the character and determination that has become their hallmark this season, Gold Coast again clawed their way back from a goal down in the second half to take the three points thanks to a brace from Tahj Minniecon and a bullet from Mitch Cooper.

The first half had the feel of a heavyweight boxing match with both sides feeling each other out but neither could land the solid punch needed to take control of the game.

A typically hot and dry day in Adelaide, both sides were forced to take a drinks break 20 minutes into the match to remain hydrated.

Possession was even but chances were scarce, with the best coming from the Gold Coast at the half hour mark after some good combination work in midfield.

Adelaide were dangerous, probing the wings in the first half with Perry Mitris on the left a constant menace, but the feeling was that things were beginning to click for the visitors as the opening stanza came to a close.

But a sluggish start to the second half saw the hosts take the lead after a defensive mix-up in the 50th minute. The ball fell to Evan Kostopoulos and he capitalized on United's error to put Adelaide 1-0 up.

Kostopoulos had another shot five minutes later that could have seen the Reds double their advantage, but Gold Coast gloveman Jerrad Tyson was equal to the task and kept his team in the game.

Recovering from their lacklustre start to the second period, United went on the front foot in search of an equalizer and with a slight tactical re-jig and the introduction of Mitch Cooper to the match they soon had their first goal of the match.

Exciting starlet Ben Halloran took off on an incisive run, spotted the run of Minniecon and rewarded it by slipping him the ball, with Minniecon finishing the move and sliding the ball past Adelaide gloveman Nick Munro to level the scores.

Gold Coast began peppering the goals and in truth should have gone ahead through Halloran or Golgol Mebrahtu after the two went on a barrage of shots, but neither could find the one needed to take the lead.

But in the 81^st minute, another penetrating Halloran run was the catalyst for United's second goal - and though the ball came loose, Cooper was there to bang home the scraps with a shot from the right-hand side of the penalty box that jetted into the top left-hand corner of the net.

Seven minutes later Mike Mulvey's men put the icing on the cake after Minniecon profited from some good midfield play and fired home his second goal of the afternoon.

Gold Coast had to withstand a number of injury-time attacks from the Reds but they held on for yet another comeback win as they remain comfortably atop the NYL ladder but with six games left to play.