Back to The Beach! Help make home advantage count as United and Heart battle for three massive points.
Gold Coast United v Melbourne Heart
Friday 18th November, 7.00pm
Back to The Beach! Help make home advantage count as United and Heart battle for three massive points.
It’s been a rough couple of weeks on the road for Gold Coast United. With two narrow and painfully unfortunate defeats in two away journeys, it’s time for the Beach to help their players get back to winning ways by singing them to three crucial points against Melbourne Heart under the lights on Friday night. So secure your ticket today and get ready to be a part of the drama!
While the away losses were disappointing, you only have to look at United’s previous game at Skilled Park to see just what they can do on home soil.
Three weekends ago, they turned Newcastle Jets over 3-1, with Dutchman Maceo Rigters scoring his first goal for the club before second-half goals to veteran Kristian Rees and youngster James Brown sealed the win.
While this might be their only triumph so far in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season, they showed enough in their two recent away losses to suggest that they are more than capable of grabbing their second this Saturday.
To lose from a two-goal advantage against Sydney was sloppy, but they displayed plenty of attacking endeavour in the first hour. In the 2-1 loss to Adelaide on Friday, they carved out loads of chances and it was only some fine goalkeeping that prevented them from rescuing a point. Also, the continued fine form of James Brown is a real positive as Gold Coast strive to climb the table.
Talking of climbing the table, United’s visitors are in high spirits after picking up their first win of the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season and only their second home victory in 12 months with a hugely impressive drubbing of Newcastle Jets on Saturday night.
Substitute Eli Babalj’s neat footwork in the area set up captain Fred to score midway through the second-half before Mate Dugandzic capitalised on some sloppy defending to wrap up the points. Aziz Behich’s late strike was not only the icing on the cake, but an early contender for goal of the season.
Rather than this being an anomalous result, Heart will feel that the win was long overdue. Their performances have merited better than they have reaped, so they will certainly be looking at a trip to Skilled Park as an opportunity to gain back-to-back wins. However, they’ll be without Brazilian striker Alex Terra who has a hamstring strain.
United are unbeaten against Heart. In their three meetings during the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season, both games in Victoria ended in stalemates, while the only match played at Skilled Park saw the home side smash their visitors 3-0.
After two weeks of hurt on their travels, it’s time for Gold Coast United to enjoy some home comfort. So be there on Friday to welcome them back and to cheer them on to a morale boosting win. It’s set to be an exciting night under the lights, so make sure you’re part of it!
