Defending champions Gold Coast have finally broken through for their first win of the National Youth League season with a resounding 4-1 victory over Adelaide United at Owen Park on Sunday.
Defending champions Gold Coast have finally broken through for their first win of the National Youth League season with a resounding 4-1 victory over Adelaide United at Owen Park on Sunday.
Mike Mulvey’s men unleashed three weeks worth of pent-up frustration on the unsuspecting Reds, with goals from Daniel Severino, Mitch Bevan, Jake Barker-Daish and Kwame Yeboah ending their barren start to the season.
A squad stacked with players fighting for a senior berth – and a starting XI featuring seven names who have played Hyundai A-League football already this term, and two who played in Adelaide on Friday – controlled the match from the outset.
Adelaide’s only real spell of dominance came as the first half drew to a close but they were unable to make the most of their opportunities – but the writing was on the wall for them as early as the fourth minute.
Severino launched a stunning left-foot strike from 25 metres that had Adelaide goalkeeper John Hall clearly beaten but not the crossbar, as the ball rattled into the woodwork and rocketed up into the air.
As he picked himself up off the dirt, Hall momentarily lost his bearings and was left red-faced when the ball landed and backspin over the line before he could get to it – one of the most comical goals you are likely to see this season.
It was just an entrée for what was to come on a difficult afternoon for the visitors, as the Reds’ custodian tried to make up for his gaffe with a string of fine saves as Gold Coast upped the pressure.
Despite his best efforts, there was little Hall could do about Bevan’s clinical 14th-minute shot from inside the box that doubled his side’s advantage.
The visitors had scattered chances early on. First, Teeboy Kamara flashed a sixth minute shot wide of the goalmouth, then Adelaide captain Allan Welsh forced a top-drawer save from Coast gloveman Jerrad Tyson with his 36th-minute free kick from the edge of the area.
The match opened up for the Reds as the first stanza progressed but they were unable to make a dent in the scoreline, which stood at 2-0 at the interval.
Gold Coast started the second half the way they did the first – with another onslaught of chances. The visitors stood firm but a third goal always looked likely and it came through Young Qantas Socceroo Barker-Daish in the 57th minute.
The move began on the left through Bevan, who was once again on his lonesome in behind the defence. With precision, he cut the ball back inside the box to Chris Harold – but his shot was parried away by Hall.
However, there awaiting the scraps was Barker-Daish and he made no mistake with what was a simple tap-in.
There was late consolation for the Reds, with Liam Wooding curling an 84th-minute stunner from distance past an outstretched Tyson – but whatever comfort it provided was brief.
Five minutes later Gold Coast made it 4-1, as Tahj Minniecon provided the platform with a classy through ball for Yeboah to put the final exclamation point on what was a triumphant afternoon for the two-time NYL champions.
Gold Coast United 4 (Severino 4, Bevan 14, Barker-Daish 57, Yeboah 89)
Adelaide United 1 (Wooding 84)
