Back with a bang! United returned to winning ways in style last week
Saturday 11th December 8:15pm
Back with a bang! United returned to winning ways in style last week. Help them make it back-to-back victories as Phoenix head to Skilled Park.
It seemed like the wheels had completely come off Gold Coast United-s wagon. After a crucial loss to their main rivals for a top two spot, they were looking to bounce straight back with a home banker against local rivals North Queensland Fury.
However, as is often the way with derby games, league standings meant little and the Beach was stunned into silence as the visitors inflicted a shock defeat on Miron Bleiberg-s side. Would these two defeats on the spin signal the end of their challenge for silverware? Would it begin a slide down the table?
Emphatically, the answer is no. United put in a typically shrewd performance against Melbourne Heart at Skilled Park last weekend, soaking up the pressure and then counter-attacking with incredible efficiency.
With Heart huffing and puffing but categorically failing to blow United-s defence down, a strike from Bas van den Brink just before the break and a second-half brace from Captain Fantastic Jason Culina offered a perfect lesson in how to pick off wasteful opponents.
What a shame then, that their deadly counter-attacking display wasn-t witnessed by more people. Still, the crowd of 1,658 certainly got their money-s worth on the rainy night.
Hopefully, the result, along with improved weather this weekend, will inspire more United fans to head to Skilled Park and really get behind their side. After all, if they can win 3-0 in front of a smattering of hardcore followers, imagine what they can do with the backing of a big and noisy crowd.
This team has a fantastic chance of glory in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, so it-s time to show that you are right behind them by turning up in numbers.
Conversely, Wellington Phoenix-s most recent triumph came in front of a fantastic turnout at AMI Stadium last weekend as the Christchurch public came in droves to see the yellow and black take on high-flying Adelaide United.
Over 14,000 fans roared their side on, and went absolutely crazy as Ben Sigmund headed a dramatic winner deep into stoppage time. The thrilling match was, in fact, so intense that boss Ricki Herbert got a bit too worked up, and found himself sent to the stands by the referee just before the late winner.
While the victory will mean Wellington make the trip over the ditch in good spirits, their away form is still a real worry. After it looked as though they-d turned a corner with a win in Perth, they have since fallen to fairly tame defeats in Newcastle and Sydney.
If they hope to remain in the top six at the end of the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, they-ll really need to arrest their lack of points on the road.
Can United make it back-to-back home wins and keep the pressure up on the top two, or will Phoenix steal a rare away win that keeps their Grand Finals dream very much alive? It-s time to get yourself down to Skilled Park and witness first-hand some cracking Hyundai A-League action. Don-t delay, grab a ticket today!
