United We Stand! United Will Fall! Skilled Park is the place to be on Sunday
Gold Coast United v Adelaide United
Sunday 17th October 4:00pm
United We Stand! United Will Fall! Skilled Park is the place to be on Sunday as Gold Coast aim to topple ladder leaders Adelaide in the clash of the Uniteds.
What a game there is in store at Skilled Park on Sunday. The Hyundai A-League-s top team are coming to town, but that won-t daunt Miron Bleiberg and his troops in the slightest.
Gold Coast United are on a roll at the moment, taking on every test that comes their way and passing it with flying colours. With three wins and two draws from their last five games, they have shot up the ladder and now have the top two sides well within their sights.
Gold Coast-s last game, the comprehensive victory over Wellington, will have been extra satisfying for Bleiberg. His side have defended impressively this season, yet have struggled to find the net in the absence of Shane Smeltz. Against Phoenix though, they struck three times.
It-s only the second occasion they have scored more than once in a game this campaign and the first time they have done so at Skilled Park. The other time also came against Wellington. Amazingly, two thirds of their goals in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season have come against the New Zealand side.
After taking a few games to find his match-fitness and his bearings, Bruce Djite-s brace in the win, along with his header against Sydney, suggests that he might just be the man to fill Smeltz-s boots. So, it is renewed confidence in front of goal that Gold Coast welcome their next challenge. And what a mammoth one it is…
Unbeaten Adelaide United can seemingly do no wrong this Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season. In their last match at Sydney Football Stadium, they were second best for long periods.
Indeed, Sydney could have comfortably won the game if it weren-t for some poor finishing, but, in that match, United showed three good reasons why they have the wherewithal to go all the way this season. Firstly, they won the game without playing especially brilliantly – the mark of a good side.
Secondly, they got a bit of good fortune. Shannon Cole-s own goal offered a way back into the game which The Reds grabbed with both hands. All top teams need a healthy slice of luck from time to time.
Thirdly, where many sides would have been content enough with an away point against a team that had given them a real run for their money, United didn-t stop pushing on for victory until the very last whistle. And they got their reward.
So Adelaide United arrive at Skilled Park with daylight between them and the chasing pack and are buoyed by the news that last Monday-s match-winner, lightening quick youngster Iain Ramsay, has agreed to a contract extension that will keep him with the club for another two years.
However, Argentinean playmaker Marcos Flores will miss the game due to a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Gold Coast-s preparations have been hindered by eight inches of rain last weekend.
The flooding forced the team to train at Carrara Stadium-s indoor facilities with every outdoor option in the region ruled out. Still, such inconvenience won-t dampen spirits in the camp as they look to continue their outstanding season.
It‘s the coming together of two in-form sides on Sunday and it-s going to be a cracking encounter. So come on Gold Coast fans, your team is absolutely flying at the moment and are geared up to tear into the Hyundai A-League-s top team.
It-s high time to get yourself down to Skilled Park in numbers and support your boys in their bid to close the gap on he league leaders. Let-s hear some noise from The Beach!
To get your tickets go to ticketek
