Money DOESN’T Buy happiness: Melbourne 3, GCU 2

By: Marcus | September 28th, 2009

Let’s face it we came into this match hoping to ride on the success of last weeks win over Adelaide, but knew it would be hard to get all 3 points against a team of Gold Coast’s qualities. Hernandez’s cracker and Muscat’s sealer sent me to bed as a very happy boy.

Carlos Hernandez

Gold Coast United: 2 (Jason Culina 18′, Joel Porter 45′)
Melbourne Victory: 3 (Carlos Hernandez 22′, Archie Thompson 43′, Kevin Muscat 86′)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Skilled Stadium, Gold Coast

Just over 5000 attended an action and controversial packed game between Gold Coast and Melbourne.
It didn’t take long to Gold Coast to register a goal. Young Golgol made a run down the right evading Kemp and Vargas before cutting into the middle of the pitch a dishing off a pass to Joel Porter, who smartly knocked the ball on just before Muscat brought him downing earning United a penalty. Socceroo Jason Culina stepped up smashing the ball into the bottom left corner of the net putting GC 1 goal to the good.

As Thwaite handled the ball in the middle of the pitch 5 minutes later the game lifted a notch. Broxham seized the ball and played it on to Carlos, who sprinted through the middle of the pitch and unleashing a candidate for goal of the year, as he struck a sweetly hit shot from 30 meters out and it dipped just under the crossbar. Stunning goal, stunned everyone and sent the traveling fans into raptures. 1-1

In the 27th minute Fitzsimmons bolted out of defence but lost control of the ball, Broxham picked it up and Fitzsimmons lunged at him with a two footed tackle which saw him rightly given a straight red, luckily Leigh was not injured.

On 42 minutes Brebner made a run forward and played a neat one-two with Leijer before pulling the ball back to Fabiano who laid it off for Archie who made no mistake and handed Melbourne the lead. 2-1.

Melbourne’s lead didn’t last long as Gold Coast were awarded a corner 2 minutes later. Melbourne defended the corner casually and the cross found it’s way to Porter who nodded it home, scoring his first for Gold Coast and giving a 10 man Gold Coast an equalizer. The half drew to a close with the scores 2-2 in a very entertaining first half.

In the second half Gold Coast had a great chance as the ball fell to Rees just outside the 6 yard box but Moss kept Gold Coast out. Late in the match as Gold Coast pressed froward muscat managed t get the ball and put Archie in a very attacking position. Thompson burst down the pitch into the box before he was brought down by Bas Van den Brink, a penalty was rightly awarded. Muscat stepped up to the spot with a 100% record which calmed the nerves of Victory fans, but he skyed it. Lucky for us the ref called the ball back as he had ruled Van den Brink encroached on the area. This time with heart’s in mouths, Kev made no mistakes slotting the ball into the bottom right corner giving Melbourne all 3 points.

That makes it 2 great wins in a row on the road. With Pondeljak and Ward missing it was going to be interesting to see how we would go. Merrick played a diamond 4-4-2, which didn’t do to bad, Mate Dunganzic made his debut which was great to see. Our next match is at home against the Roar, hopefully it turns out to be as good as the last time they came down a few weeks ago! Here’s Bleiberg’s dummy spit for this week here