Gold Coast United have recorded a stunning come-from-behind 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the National Youth League clash at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Gold Coast United have recorded a stunning come-from-behind 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory in the National Youth League clash at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Victory forward Luke O’Dea struck in the 24th minute as Darren Davies’ side looked headed for their first points of the season.
But Daniel Severino levelled with a free-kick, and he set up Daniel Bowles for the winner in the 90th minute as the reigning champions made it three wins on the trot.
The visitors made the brighter start, putting Victory on the back foot, but they failed to create any clear-cut chances.
Victory, who had conceded 18 goals in four games leading into the encounter, looked compact at the back and reliant on Hyundai A-League prospect James Jeggo providing a spark in the middle.
Against the run of play, Victory opened the scoring thanks to a fine O’Dea strike midway through the first half.
Melvin Becket intercepted a Gold Coast pass from defence and O’Dea, with two markers chasing, hit his effort across goalkeeper Brendan White and into the bottom corner.
Gold Coast pushed and Victory looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but it took until first-half stoppage time for either team to go close again.
The versatile Severino smashed a dipping free-kick onto the crossbar from 30 yards, and Victory cleared their lines to go into the break 1-0 up.
Mike Mulvey’s men continued to attack after the restart, but still had trouble breaking down a steady Victory defence.
The hosts stayed patient and almost doubled their lead just after the hour-mark when O’Dea burst clear, but he only managed to force a low save from White.
Full-back Bowles put an effort over, and he also hit a volley wide after a well-worked move.
Despite the missed chances, Gold Coast finally produced an equaliser and it unsurprisingly came from a Severino free-kick.
The 29-year-old, in a similar position to where he hit the bar from, curled his shot over the wall and into the top corner.
It was not the last time his set-pieces would cause trouble as he sent a free-kick into the area for Bowles to guide into the bottom corner as United took three points late on.
Melbourne Victory 1 (O’Dea 24)
Gold Coast United 2 (Severino 80, Bowles 90)
