Sydney v Gold Coast

A-League report by Stephen Webb
Sydney FC v Gold Coast United


Sydney came back from two goals down to thrill home fans with a last-gasp penalty win against a mightily pissed off Gold Coast United.

At least if coach Miron Bleiberg's comments about hometown referee Peter Green are any guide.

But even Bleiberg would have to admit Sydney were playing out of their skins to get the winner and, stout as Gold Coast's defence was, the winner was inevitable and probably deserved ... if you looked beyond the first half when, with fourth spot up for grabs, Sydney didn't look interested: slow to the ball and giving Gold Coast players too much space.

Gold Coast kicked off before a gathering but fair crowd under an overcast sky.

But first excitement came courtesy of Brett Emerton after Nick Carle got Sydney out of a defensive mess; Emerton down the right then failing in his attempt to skin three players in the Gold Coast penalty area.

Michael Beauchamp was strong shutting down Maceo Rigters attacking down the left and Kristian Rees — my pick from the first half — was good rising over Emerton.

Carle beat Dylan McGowan down the left but fluffed his cross and Emerton failed in his attempt to beat Robson, who was presenting enough problems of his own for Sydney's defence.

After ten minutes Gold Coast were looking better, looking particularly dangerous with flick-ons into Sydney's penalty area. But then Scott Jamieson looked comfortable beating two attackers getting the ball out of the right corner.

Rees was winning the ball with some hard tackling but conceded a corner to Emerton.

High feet against Hirofumi Moriyasu won Sydney a free kick just outside the Gold Coast penalty area. Carle hit the ball low into the wall.

Sydney then had some time with the ball in and around the Gold Coast box until a high ball from the left dropped at the right post for Karol Kisel, who volleyed into the ankles of Glen Moss.

On 22 minutes Jamie Coyne let Rees get away on a Robson corner from the right, his free header putting Gold Coast in the lead.

Sydney didn't seem daunted; Carle getting a good break down the middle and supplying Mark Bridge on the right. Bridge, however, chose not to return to Carle free in front of goal but instead took the path of most resistance to the goal line, where he did finally get away a cross. But not the best option. As 10,000 fans would attest.

Bridge then woke up to himself and threaded Carle into the Gold Coast penalty area, where the marquee man couldn't beat Adama Traore and Paul Beekmans and Michael Thwaite. And Bridge, still seeking redemption, hit a cracker from the right of the box calling a great diving save from Moss.

In the 30th minute Thwaite made an amazing clearance from under the crossbar after Bridge chipped Moss for what appeared to be a certain goal. It will have to be included in the season's DVD highlights.

Rigters blocked a good drive by Kisel and in the 33rd minute an Emerton volley over his shoulder was saved by Moss, Bridge getting to the rebound but Moss saving again.

It was a great spell by Sydney but to no avail.

In the 38th minute Emerton was played to the goal line on the right where his lob back was headed on by Rees into the path of Moriyasu, whose fierce volley on target was deflected for a corner.

The first half ended with Gold Coast on the attack.

The second half began with Sydney changed: in mindset and with Bruno Cazarine on in place of Moriyasu. Moriyasu hadn't been that bad ... but Cazarine's presence changed things completely: providing a welcome target for Carle and Emerton and destabilising Rees and Thwaite.

Unfortunately for Sydney a defensive lapse — or Peter Jungschlager's brilliance — set Dylan Macallister free on goal and Reddy, setting himself too soon, made Macallister's opportunity all the easier.

Sydney were down. But far from out.

Emerton got away down the left and crossed. Bridge shot into Moss.

Emerton got to the Gold Coast goal box and shot into Moss.

"It's not the same without Brosquey," came a voice nearby.

"No it's not is it?"

But in the 60th minute Cazarine got a glancing header on a cross from Pascal Bosschaart and Sydney had clawed one back.

In the 63rd minute Carle and Bridge played one-twos into the penalty area, Bridge's shot was blocked but finally a ball fell for Carle and the score was 2-2.

Emerton played on to Cazarine who set Coyne free on the right. Coyne shot and Moss saved. The crowd was baying for a third.

The traffic wasn't one-way. In the 67th minute a tremendous long-range free kick by Robson was tipped over the crossbar by Reddy.

Coyne won a free kick for Sydney on the right, quickly taken. The ball in found Cazarine, who headed over the crossbar.

Bosschaart blocked a shot by Macallister.

With more than ten minutes to go Sydney had been flagging. But Emerton, fed down the right, played back for Carle who shot way wide.

Jamieson on the edge of the penalty area demanded another fabulous save from Moss.

The pressure finally paid off in extra time when Beauchamp was fouled and Sydney were awarded a penalty. Kisel just converted beyond the diving Moss.