A well-drilled Gold Coast United has leapfrogged Perth into third place in the National Youth League with a 4-0 win over the Glory on Saturday.
The win represents United Youth’s first clean sheet and keeps its unbeaten record intact.
The home side claimed the ascendency early in the first half through a Golgol Mebrahtu slider and the Glory was left under siege for the majority of the remainder.
Mebrahtu looked a class above his opponents on the day, showing deft touch and turning on a dime to leave defenders in his wake.
Mebrahtu and Andrew Barisic enjoyed exceptional service up-front with Ben Halloran the most constructive player on the pitch. After defending stoutly and feeding his strikers good-balls, the winger grabbed a goal of his own midway through the second-half to ice the game.
Barasic and Zachary Anderson also grabbed a goal each towards the end of the match as the score blew-out with Gold Coast having a plethora of opportunities.
For the Glory, Ryan Edwards was the only player to really trouble United’s defence, but he lacked creative support as his team succumbed to a relentless opposition.
Perth skipper Steven Hesketh had a horror day, he got caught up in a running battle with Barisic which only ended when his failed clearance handed the United striker his goal and then earned him a rest.
Hesketh ran himself into the ground in defence and spent plenty of time on the ground injured after throwing everything into his efforts.
United’s first goal came on the end a of superb cross from James Brown which found the illusive Mebrahtu on the run to slam the ball past the keeper and set the tone for a dominant performance.
Perth were still in the match through the first half with Edwards and Ludovic Boi creating opportunities but their best chance came when awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area.
Howard Fondyke stepped up to attempt to equalise but his feeble attempt barely moved United goalkeeper Jerrad Tyson in a sign of things to come.
Gold Coast went to the break leading 1-0 and came out in the second half with their tails up.
After Barisic was handed his goal when Halloran came forward to trouble the Glory and after two near-misses a strong run from Mitchell Bevan allowed Halloran space to make it 3-0.
The home side peppered Perth’s goal for the remainder and were unlucky not to score on a raft of occasions.
When Bevan hit the crossbar from 25 metres out, Anderson was on hand to clean up and put the icing on the cake with his first goal of the season.
Gold Coast has the bye next week while Perth will need to regroup before heading to Canberra for its Round 7 fixture with AIS.
Gold Coast United 4 (Mebrahtu 13, Barasic 57, Halloran 75, Anderson 85)
Perth Glory 0
