Back to The Beach! Back with a bang! Show some Heart on Sunday and help United bring more joy to Skilled Park!
Back to The Beach! Back with a bang! Show some Heart on Sunday and help United bring more joy to Skilled Park!
After a couple of very tough away fixtures, Gold Coast United return to home soil, and they want you to be there with them! This Sunday afternoon, high-flying Melbourne Heart make up a tricky opponent for United, so be sure to get yourself down to Skilled Park and show your unequivocal support from first whistle to last. It’s guaranteed to be a belter; be part of it!
United fans and players alike will be hoping for a reprisal of the performance they gave in the last match at Skilled Park. With plenty of vociferous support from the stands, the Gold Coast put in a brave, battling display against local rivals Brisbane Roar. In a tight match, the home side showed immense character to combine enterprising attacking with the kind of disciplined defending that answered all the questions that the champions asked of them. Then, just as United seemed to be settling for a very decent draw, man of the match Ben Halloran was felled by Roar winger Rocky Visconte in the 88th minute, giving substitute and dead-ball specialist Daniel Severino the chance to secure three unlikely points. The coolness of his spot-kick belied the tension that engulfed the stadium, and wild celebrations ensued as the Gold Coast celebrated their first triumph over their local rivals in two years.
If they can put in a similar performance on Sunday, there is every chance they can get their own back on a Melbourne Heart side that have already won at Skilled Park in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season. In a gritty match, Heart came away with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from midfielder Matt Thompson and Jonathan Germano either side of an absolutely fantastic 63rd-minute free kick from Peter Jungschlager. It was United’s first ever defeat 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.
Heart’s recent form on the road is incredibly impressive. They have won their last three away games and their most recent victory on their travels was the biggest in their short history. At Sydney Football Stadium last week, the 4-0 thumping – thanks to goals from Eli Babalj, Mate Dugandzic, Jason Hoffman and Alex Terra – sent out a clear statement of intent to the rest of the Hyundai A-League. The quality of their play – solid at the back and pouncing at the perfect times when going forward – will leave the Gold Coast in no doubt that they have got a very tough game on their hands this weekend.
Can United make it a Golden Sunday for The Beach, or will the visitors leave them Heartbroken? One thing is for sure, there will be heaps of outstanding action and high-quality football on display as two sides who like to play football the right way go head-to-head. So why not be there and experience excellent Hyundai A- League excitement for yourself? Bring your family, bring your friends; it’s sure to be a great day out!
