Gold Coast United have recorded a come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday thanks to an impressive brace from Tahj Minniecon.
The Baby Reds took a deserved lead early in the second half after putting the visitors on the back foot but some sloppy play in the middle of the park saw Adelaide cough up possession and goals.
Gold Coast capitalised and didn’t waste their chances, putting away three goals in just over a quarter of an hour, after chasing the home side for much of the match.
The visitors punished Adelaide who dominated the first half and could have killed off the match early in the second stanza.
Adelaide had a chance early on with Brett Rayner heading wide after a pin-point corner Brad Norton corner on five minutes.
Adelaide continued to dictate proceedings and were enjoying plenty of space out on the flanks while remaining solid in defence.
Gold Coast struggled up front with Minniecon brilliantly contained by Reds stopper Daniel Scordo, who continually thwarted GCU’s attack.
GolGol Mebrathu carved out a wonderful chance after 20 minutes when he played a neat and sharp one-two with Minniecon to create space inside the area for a shot.
The striker fired from 10 metres but Baby Reds keeper Nick Munro was equal to the task and parried the shot to safety.
On the half hour, United striker Evan Kostopoulos looked to curl one past Jerrad Tyson in the Gold Coast goal but his long range effort went just wide.
Adelaide eventually opened the scoring inside five minutes of the second half courtesy of a cool finish from Kostopoulos.
Rayner was involved in the build up and thread through a perfectly weighted pass for his team-mate, who beat one defender before firing low into the bottom corner, leaving Tyson no chance.
The pair were involved again a short time later and could have made it two for the Baby Reds when they combined to free up Perry Mitris on the edge of the area. Mitris took a touch before slamming his shot against the upright after Tyson managed to get a glove to the powerful drive.
Ben Halloran almost pulled one back for Gold Coast with a long range effort but keeper Nick Munro batted the shot away.
In the 72nd minute the visitors drew level through Minniecon after Halloran robbed United captain Mitch Nicholson off possession on halfway line, but without a hint of a foul.
Halloran put Minniecon through and the speedster made no mistake as he latched onto the through ball, slotting it under the on rushing Munro.
Ten minutes later and the visitors took the lead with Mitch Cooper getting on the scoresheet as the ball sat up perfectly for the substitute who half volleyed on the turn.
And just before the end of normal time, Minniecon grabbed his second to seal all three points for Gold Coast.
This time Cooper turned provider after he won possession in attack and put through a delightful ball in behind the Baby Reds defence.
Minniecon took a touch and raced away before cutting in slightly and coolly slotting the ball in the bottom corner.
Adelaide United 1 (Kostopoulos 49)
Gold Coast United 3 (Minniecon 72, 88, Cooper 82)
