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The action-packed spectacle produced five goals inside the first 30 minutes as the two sides went blow for blow in a fine exhibition of attacking football, with Barker-Daish and Cooper turning in fine displays to go with their goals.

The two Australian U17 internationals did their claims for a first team place no harm with mature and energetic performances that will have impressed the watching Miron Bleiberg.

The goal fest started in the 5^th minute when Anthony Proia tapped home Michael Taurasi’s cross at the far post to give the AIS the lead, albeit against the run of play.

But it seemed only a matter of time before the home side levelled the scores as United continued to put together some nice moves with the talented Cooper, Barker-Daish and Josh Brillante pulling the strings in midfield.

Midway through the first half they did just that with a sweeping move that sparked a goalscoring frenzy for the next five minutes.

Sami Tesfagabr found Chris Harold on the right with a fine 50-metre diagonal ball and the United striker used his strength to muscle past his marker and pull the ball back for partner Chris Lucas who confidently swept the ball past Jordan Thurtell in the visitor’s goal.

Moments later Gold Coast hit the front when the excellent Barker-Daish thumped home from ten metres after Brillante’s superb strike thundered back off the upright and landed at the midfielder’s feet.

Gold Coast’s lead didn’t last long however and within four minutes it was 2-2. Scorer of the AIS’s first goal, Anthony Proia, turned provider for the second with a perfectly weighted through ball that found Benjamin Garuccio who fired his shot under Chris O’Connor.

The drama continued within a minute though with Barker-Daish doubling his tally for the day with a powerful drive from inside the box that flew into the net after nice work from Tesfagabr set him up.

Despite some excellent attacking play from both sides there was no further scoring until the 66^th minute when AIS equalised again with a quality move that was finished off confidently by Joshua Barresi to make it 3-3.

Ten minutes later this extraordinary match took another turn as Gold Coast again took the lead with an incisive breakaway started by the effervescent Brillante. The United midfielder showed awareness, strength and a deft touch to steal the ball on the halfway line then feed the onrushing Cooper who had threatened to score all afternoon. Cooper held off his marker and showed great composure to slide the ball inside the post and put United’s noses in front for the third time in the game.

Cooper was at it again in the dying moments of the game, showing maturity beyond his years to deftly lob the ball over Thurtell and confirm the points for Gold Coast with the fifth goal for his side in what was a terrific exhibition of attacking football from both teams.