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Super-sub Barisic wins it for Gold Coast
Sat Dec 5 2009Hyundai A-League Round 17
At Skilled Park, Gold Coast
GOLD COAST UNITED 2 (Smeltz 68’, Barisic 76’)
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 1 (Simon 39’)
HT: 0-1
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 4117
SUBSTITUTE Andrew Barisic was the hero for Gold Coast United as he struck a 76th minute winner to secure all three points for his side against the Central Coast Mariners at Skilled Park.
United had to come from behind to register the win, with Shane Smeltz cancelling out the Matt Simon goal that gave the visitors a half-time lead.
It was only Barisic’s second appearance of the season and comes after a string of impressive performances for the United Youth Team, which has yielded seven goals for the former Melbourne Knights man.
The win was no more than Gold Coast deserved. Despite a tepid first period Miron Bleiberg’s men got at their resilient opponents in the second half and may have increased the margin of victory had it not been for the Mariners’ ‘keeper, Danny Vukovic.
United’s triumph sees them leapfrog the Central Coast and closes the gap on Hyundai A-League leaders Melbourne Victory to just four points.
The game started as expected with the visitors well organised and content to put men behind the ball as Gold Coast probed for an opening.
Chances were few and far between in the opening 20 minutes with Michael McGlinchey’s shot into the side netting the best the visitors could muster. Soon after, Shane Smeltz swivelled just inside the box and took aim for Gold Coast, but his shot was straight at Mariners custodian Danny Vukovic, who saved comfortably.
Zenon Caravella almost took matters into his own hands 10 minutes before half-time with a good run and shot, but the home side were reeling in the 38th minute when the Mariners took the lead.
Nicky Travis was left unmarked to receive a short corner and when his well-weighted, far post cross came in, Matt Simon stole in front of Kristian Rees to nod the ball past Jess Vanstrattan with a low header.
Jolted by the goal United almost fashioned an immediate response. Tahj Minniecon took off on a threatening run only to have his foray unceremoniously ended by Dean Heffernan’s cynical challenge, the Mariners’ defender earning a yellow card for his misdemeanour.
Gold Coast tried to up the tempo at the start of the second period as they went in search of the equaliser and Bleiberg added muscle to the attack with the introduction of Barisic on the hour mark.
The move paid dividends just 8 minutes later when Barisic swung in a pin-point cross to the far post where master marksman Shane Smeltz was lurking. The New Zealand international made no mistake with his header and suddenly United were back in the game.
With wind in their sails, Gold Coast swept forward looking for the winner. They thought they had it in the 72nd minute but Shane Smeltz was adjudged offside as he tapped into the empty net.
Gold Coast were now looking a different side to the one that had struggled to make an impact for 60 minutes and they soon had the lead they deserved.
Another blistering break from defence by Smeltz started the move and his neat pass found Culina on the edge of the box. The Gold Coast skipper drove for goal only for Vukovic to save superbly, however, substitute Barisic was first to the loose ball and he gleefully drove home his first Hyundai A-League goal.
Gold Coast United:
1.Jess VANSTRATTAN [gk], 2.Steve PANTELIDIS, 3.Michael THWAITE, 7.Zenon CARAVELLA, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Jason CULINA (c), 13.Bas VAN DEN BRINK, 15.Tahj MINNIECON (18.James BROWN 65’), 16.Kristian REES, 23.Steve FITZSIMMONS (19.Andrew BARISIC 60’), 24.ANDERSON.
Unused subs: 20.Scott HIGGINS [gk]. 17.Matt OSMAN
Yellow cards: Rees 74’, Culina 86’
Red cards: none.
Central Coast Mariners
20.Danny VUKOVIC [gk], 4.Pedj BOJIC, 5.Brad PORTER (15.Andrew CLARK 77’), 7.John HUTCHINSON, 8.Dean HEFFERNAN, 14.Michael McGLINCHEY, 16.Nigel BOOGAARD, 18.Alex WILKINSON (c), 19.Matt SIMON, 21.Ahmad ELRICH (23.Adam KWASNIK 72’), 22.Nicky TRAVIS.
Unused subs: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE [gk] 2.Matthew CROWELL
Yellow cards: Heffernan 40’.
Red cards: none.
Story Cortesy of Gold Coast United
