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Smeltz on the spot for Gold Coast

Smeltz on the spot for Gold Coast

Hyundai A-League Week 26

At nib Stadium, Perth

PERTH GLORY 1 (Taggart 75’)

GOLD COAST UNITED 2 (Smeltz 33’ [pen] / 55’ [pen])

HT: 0-1

Referee: Jared Gillet

Crowd: 6,617

TWO Shane Smeltz penalties, one in each half, secured a deserved 2-1 victory for Gold Coast United over Perth Glory at nib Stadium, despite a desperate late surge from the home side.

Smeltz was deadly from the spot and Gold Coast were good value for the win that takes them within a point of third-placed Adelaide United, still with a game in hand over the Reds.

Fifth-placed Melbourne Victory can only achieve the points total Gold Coast have already amassed, and United’s superior goal difference all but guarantees at least a fourth-place finish, with it coming the certainty of home match in the first round of the Finals Series.

But with two games still to play, Miron Bleiberg’s men will hold ambitions of progressing at least one place up the table before the Finals, particularly after impressing with a composed performance against the Glory.

A depleted United were without the likes of Joel Porter, Bruce Djite, Bas van den Brink and skipper Jason Culina, but they were still too good for an enthusiastic Perth and held firm as the home side mounted some late pressure after Adam Taggart gave his team a lifeline with 15 minutes to go.

In the first half Perth offered little in attack and were constantly caught offside with young striker Taggart the serial offender. So it was no surprise when just after the half hour Gold Coast deservedly took the lead.

Golgol Mebrahtu was the architect, winning a penalty after taking a clever pass from Smeltz in his stride and breaking into the box. Perth’s Jamie Harnwell halted Mebrahtu’s run illegally and referee Gillet had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Mebrahtu injured his shoulder in the challenge and is likely to miss the rest of the campaign, but Smeltz eased his pain slightly by slamming the spot-kick past Tando Velaphi in the Perth goal.

Adriano Pelligrino gave an instant reminder to Gold Coast that their one-goal lead was fragile by snapping a low drive narrowly wide, then up at the other end Anderson stung Velaphi’s palms with a bullet from 25-metres.

Comfortable at the break, Gold Coast started the final 45 minutes well and had another shout for a penalty when Michael Thwaite felt Harnwell had impeded him in the box.

But United didn’t have to wait much longer for their second spot-kick of the contest. Adama Traore won the ball on the halfway line and continued his run forward while Zenon Caravella combined with Peter Perchtold. The German import’s pass to Traore was sublime and the Ivorian winger was too quick for the Glory’s Josh Mitchell, who could only trip the United man as he cut inside.

Smeltz showed nerves of steel as he stepped up to drill his second penalty of the evening into the roof of the net, giving Velaphi no chance.

Thwaite almost added a third for United with a flying header, then the lively Tahj Minniecon’s cross eluded both Traore and Smeltz as Gold Coast threatened again.

In the 75^th minute Perth ensured the last quarter hour was going to be a nervous time for Gold Coast when they halved the deficit. Harnwell’s headed flick found Taggart on the run and the youngster did well to steer the ball past Moss with a deft touch.

The home crowd found their voice again and Perth enjoyed a good period of late pressure. However, Miron Bleiberg’s men weathered the storm, with Dino Djulbic and central-defensive partner Kristian Rees equal to everything Glory threw at them.

After travelling back to the Gold Coast on Monday United don’t have long to get ready for their next assignment, a vital home clash with second-placed Central Coast Mariners on Wednesday evening. 

Gold Coast United:

1.Glen MOSS [gk], 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE (c), 6.Dino DJULBIC, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 8.ANDERSON, 9.Shane SMELTZ (27.Chris HAROLD 90+1’), 15.Tahj MINNIECON (23.Steve FITZSIMMONS 73’), 16.Kristian REES, 21.Golgol MEBRAHTU (22.Adama TRAORE 33’), 33.Peter PERCHTOLD.

Unused subs: 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk].

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None.

Perth Glory:

1.Tando VELAPHI [gk], 2.Josh MITCHELL, 5.Jamie HARNWELL, 7.Jacob BURNS (c), 9.Robbie FOWLER, 12.Scott NEVILLE, 14.Steven McGARRY (18.Brent GRIFFITHS 71’), 16.Adriano PELLEGRINO, 19.Naum SEKULOVSKI (17.Todd HOWARTH 60’), 24.Josh RISDON (13.Tommy AMPHLETT 60’), 26.Adam TAGGART.

Unused subs: 20.Alex PEARSON [gk].

Yellow cards: Neville 20’,Burns 24’, Harnwell 31’,

Red cards: None.